LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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A MEMORIAL 



OF 



Rev. Warren H. Cudworth 



BY HIS SISTER YW- 

I will not leave you comfortless. — John xiv. 18 




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BOSTON 
D. LOTHROP AND COMPANY 

FRANKLIN VND HAWLEY STREETS 



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Copyright, 1884. 
By D. Lothrop & Company. 



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" Say, who art thou, with more than mortal air, 
Endowed by Heaven with gifts and graces rare, 
Whose restless winged feet forever onward bear ? 

" I am Occasion — known to few, at best, 
And since one foot upon a wheel I rest — 
Constant my movements are. — They cannot be repressed." 



In a remarkable degree was the "Opportunity " illustrated in the 
life of the dear Subject of this Memorial^ 

Rev. Warren H. Cudworth. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

WHEN the founders of the city of Lowell — 
Nathan Appleton, Patrick T. Jackson, Paul 
Moody and others — saw and seized the opportu- 
nity to establish a great manufacturing city on 
the banks of the noble Merrimac, Warren Cud- 
worth was selected from one of the Waltham 
spinning-rooms, where he was overseer, to go to 
Lowell and start Number i spinning room on the 
Merrimac Corporation. There the subject of this 
memorial, Warren H. Cudworth, was born, May 
23, 1825, in a brick house then called the Over- 
seers' Block, on the middle row of the Corpora- 
tion boarding-houses, and still standing. In the 
spring of 1826 our father started Number 1 spin- 
ning room on the Hamilton Corporation, and re- 
moved there with his family, where he died of 
consumption, April n, 1827. 

In looking up the genealogy of the Cudworth 



8 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

family, I have been able, through General Ebe- 
nezer W. Pierce, who has spent much time in 
biographical, genealogical and historical research, 
to trace our family name back to General James 
Cudworth, who was a freeman in Scituate in 1634, 
and elder brother of the celebrated philosopher 
and divine, Reverend Ralph Cudworth, author of 
"The True Intellectual System of the Universe." 
General James is called, in the " History of Scit- 
uate," "a fine representative of the more liberal 
sentiment of early New England. He was a Puri- 
tan of the best type, an Independent after the 
order of John Robinson — religious, without bigotry 
or intolerance. He was deprived of his offices, 
and disfranchised by Governor Prince on account 
of the liberality of his sentiments, particularly to- 
ward the Quakers. He manifested his magnanimity 
by a dignified silence and quiet demeanor. His 
rights were afterward restored to him by Gov- 
ernor Josiah Winslow." 

In 1658 he, with twenty-five others, purchased 
lands in Freetown, Mass., a large part of which 
is now Fall River. Our immediate ancestors origi- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 9 

nated in Freetown, and there is now one farm 
there, included in that purchase, which has never 
been out of the Cudworth family. If General 
James' character had been written for my brother, 
it could not have been more correct. 

If any one now feels desirous of knowing of 
our ancestry on our mother's side, by consulting 
"Bond's History of Watertown," and looking for 
the portrait of Moses Brown, he will see a strik- 
ing likeness of our dear mother, Angeline C. 
Brown. Her father was born in Cambridge, and 
was one of the famous tea party in Boston Har- 
bor, December 16, 1773. The eldest sister dis- 
tinctly remembered hearing him relate how he, 
with others, disguised as Indians, fought their 
way home through a party of Loyalists, by station- 
ing themselves against the houses they passed, 
and taking defence with their clubs, which were 
loaded with lead, thus preventing the enemy tear- 
ing of their disguise. He was also one of the 
minute men at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and 
secreted some of the ammunition used under his 
shop, at the end of Warren Bridge in Charles- 



10 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

town. He was acting as major, without commis- 
sion, and was wounded by a musket ball, in the 
calf of the leg, while superintending the retreat 
of the soldiers across Mystic River to Winter 
Hill. At the conflagration of Charlestown he lost 
the most of his property. It seems but natural 
that his grandson should have proved the patriotic 
man he was. As early as June i, 1841, he had 
joined the National Highlanders, a volunteer com- 
pany in the city of Lowell. He was also very 
much like his mother. We three left to face the 
world with very little means were as one. We 
never knew any separation of interest. And now 
that they both have gone up higher, I am but 
one. 

But the little brother must now have attention^ 
He was not quite two years old when his father 
died, but he used to say he remembered his com- 
ing in one day from his work, weak and weary, 
just before he was taken sick, and finding his 
young representative standing in a chair at the 
open window, screaming his loudest, to hear the 
echo, spoke rather sharply to him, which prob- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. II 

ably fixed it in his mind. The first thing I re- 
member in connection with him occurred during 
the autumn following our father's death. Our 
mother had gone up-stairs one day, and left us 
two little folks, with our slates and pencils, to 
amuse ourselves. We made our pictures, and 
rubbed them out, then stooped down to dry our 
slates by the open fireplace of those days. There 
was only a smouldering fire, but in some way 
we fanned it, and my clothes caught. We both 
screamed, and the mother ear quickly caught the 
sound, and with two or three leaps was down- 
stairs, and, opening the door, found her first-born 
in flames, and the brave little brother, not yet 
three years old, standing with the tongs in his 
hands, trying to pull the fire off his sister. I 
was very seriously burned, the fire just mount- 
ing to my head when the dear mother entered 
and, with her bare hands, pushed it away from 
my face, tore off my burning clothes, and saved 
my life. 

As the little brother grew older, he developed 
one by one the traits that made him the man 



12 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

he was. That intense activity and perfect fear- 
lessness which were so apparent in his maturity, 
in the boy were sometimes mistaken and pun- 
ished for mischievousness ; but his teachers all 
lived to learn his real nature, and one came to 
him before he was eighteen years old, to be 
taught thorough bass by the roguish boy who 
himself had mastered it without instruction. 

Music was his ruling passion. Before he was 
ten years old our mother bought a harpsichord 
then called, but the same shape is now the 
grand piano. She employed a good old man 
named Sharpies, who tuned pianos and taught 
the rudiments of music, but the boy in less than 
a quarter went beyond his teacher, and had no 
more instruction, but heard all the great players, 
and read and practised music till he became the 
ready player and teacher his friends know him 
to have been. 

Our father and mother were both fine singers, 
and our father played the clarinet. Doctor John 
O. Green, still living in Lowell, in a pleasant let- 
ter to me some time since, said he recollected 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 13 

our father, whom he knew and attended in his 
last sickness, and recalled as a pleasant, genial 
man, full of music ; which will answer for a por- 
trait of his son. Our mother has told us that 
our father composed a number of pieces of 
music, which she sold for a good price after his 
death, thinking the money would be of more use 
to her children than music ; but we have often 
wished we knew what they were. The son also 
composed music before he was twenty years old, 
and I have now six pieces in print that he com- 
posed before he was twenty-three. 

He early displayed a desire for looking into 
things by taking to pieces our kitchen clock 
and putting it together again correctly. Later, 
when gun cotton was discovered, he tested satis- 
factorily its power by charging a pistol so heavily 
that it not only burst, but took off the end of 
his forefinger, which, some of his friends will 
remember, he had a trick of trying to hide. He 
was also interested in animal magnetism and the 
daguerreotype. 

When he was fourteen years old, he had de- 



14 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

veloped into manliness of air and demeanor, and 
when he was sixteen set himself seriously to think- 
ing what he was to do and be for himself, his 
mother, to whom he had always been a helpful 
son, and his sister. Our mother was a member 
of the First Congregational Church in Lowell, of 
which Reverend Amos Blanchard was pastor, and 
myself and brother united with the same church 
by the time we were sixteen years old. We all 
sang in the choir; the little brother when he 
had to stand on a cricket, would sing duets 
acceptably with his mother. 

As he had progressed in music, he practised 
on different instruments, and then sought to ob- 
tain the double bass, to play in the church he 
was attending. For some reason, the music com- 
mittee did not see fit to grant his request, and 
becoming acquainted with the Unitarian Society — 
Reverend Doctor Miles — his ability was recog- 
nized, and he was secured as organist. And thus 
was he led into the Unitarian Fold, which, as 
he thought and studied, he became assured was 
the place for his life work. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 5 

He had already tried one or two different kinds 
of manual labor, but found his heart was in 
nothing but books and music. In September, 
1842, he therefore entered Phillips Academy, 
Andover, to prepare for college. Here he at- 
tended to his studies, was connected with a musi- 
cal society, going to Lowell every Saturday, gen- 
erally walking, played the organ on Sunday and 
went back Monday. I judge that he never fell 
behind in his studies, for I have beside me the 
Order of Exercises at the Exhibition of Phillips 
Academy, August 5, 1845, in which he first de- 
veloped the dramatic element in his nature by 
arranging a scene from the "War of the Roses" 
for performance, in which he took the part of 
Montague the Usurper, and acted it too. He 
also closed the exercises by his essay on Ancient 
Architecture, and the Valedictory. 

I was told he was one of the most popular 
fellows in his class, and unanimously chosen the 
valedictorian. He had long before laid the foun- 
dation of his library, which now numbers over 
two thousand volumes, and the young man of 



1 6 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

twenty was enjoying such books as " Parks' Pan- 
tology," " Froissart's Chronicles," and a little later 
" Milman's History of Christianity," and the prose 
writers of Germany. 

By the advice of good friends, he decided to 
enter Harvard College, so August 29, 1845, we 
find him at home in Room 14, Stoughton Hall. 
And now it was that he must decide as to his 
future profession. Music was his first love, but a 
friendly M. D. was trying to persuade him to 
become a physician, yet his own inclination was 
for a clergyman's life. He was battling alone 
with his God the great future which he saw 
spread before him. The farsightedness which 
could not be content with the present was a 
strong element in his character. His life has 
proved him to have been not exceptionally, but 
harmonionsly gifted, and with the dauntless will 
which could never fail in the end. 

I cannot say what finally determined him to 
be a clergyman, but he graduated from college, 
and we next find him before the public July 
15, 185 1, when he graduated with credit from 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 1 7 

the Divinity School. The subject of his essay 
was "The Importance of the Poetry of the 
Bible to the Preacher." A hymn he wrote for 
the occasion, I will here copy: 

As humble followers of thy Son, 
We come before thee, Lord, to-day; 

Help us the Christian race to run, 
Help us to labor and to pray. 

Let not the world's alluring voice 
Entice our feet from wisdom's way, 

But may thy service be our choice, 
Thy Spirit's aid our constant stay. 

While in Life's shadowy path we tread, 
O, fill our souls with heavenly light ; 

And ever by its radiance led, 

May we be steadfast to the right. 

And when Life's sacred work is o'er, 
And we from flesh and sense are free, 

O, may our raptured spirits soar 
To holy rest and peace with thee. 

Sunday, July 6, before he graduated, he preached 
his first sermon at Somerville (Rev. Mr. Pope's 
church), from Exodus xxiii., 2 : " Thou shalt 
not follow a multitude to do evil." July 13 he 



1 8 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

preached at Medfield ; July 20 and 27, at South 
Boston ; August 3, at East Cambridge ; August 
10, at Manchester, N. H.; August 17, 24 and 31, 
at Dorchester; September 7, 14, 21, 28, and 
October 5 and 12, at Medfield; November 9 and 
16, at South Boston, and November 23, his first 
sermon at East Boston, from Luke xxi. 19 — in 
the morning : " In your patience possess ye your 
souls ; " and in the afternoon, from Matthew xi., 
28 and 29 : " Come unto me, all ye that labor 
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 
He also preached there the following Sabbath, 
and December 7, at Medfield. 

The churches at both Medfield and East Bos- 
ton gave him a call, and provisionally he accepted 
the latter, thinking that both privilege and oppor- 
tunity would be greater near Boston. He had 
engaged to travel that winter with a friend who 
was out of health, but if the East Boston Society 
were of the same mind on his return, he would 
remain with them. He preached in Savannah, 
Mobile, Charleston and Baltimore, while absent, 
and on his return, preached January 25, 1852, at 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 19 

Medfield. February i he began his life work at 
East Boston, and February 8 entered in his church 
records : " Preached at home : Text, in the morn- 
ing, 'I seek not yours, but you.' In the after- 
noon, ' Thy will be done.' " He was ordained 
Wednesday, March 17. The introductory prayer 
was by Rev. J. W. Holland of East Cambridge; 
reading of the Scriptures, Rev. C. J. Bo wen of 
Newburyport ; sermon by Rev. H. A. Miles, D. 
D., of Lowell ; ordaining prayer, Reverend Calvin 
Lincoln, of Hingham ; and the fervor of his 
prayer, as he laid his hand on the bowed young 
head before him, seemed indeed to consecrate 
him to the holy work he had undertaken, and 
left an impression which has never been effaced. 
The charge was given by his loved teacher, 
Reverend Converse Francis of Cambridge ; the 
Right Hand of Fellowship by Rev. H. F. Harring- 
ton of Lawrence ; the address to the people, by 
Rev. T. S. King of Boston, and the concluding 
prayer by Rev. A. B. Mussey of Cambridge. 
Thus in the pleasant church of the Trinitarian 
Congregational faith, generously offered for the 



20 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

occasion, was our brother set apart for his work, 
and when called up higher received his summons 
in the same church, though not in the same house. 

Before he was ordained he had commenced 
that course of energetic, self-denying work, in 
his chosen field, which ended only with his death. 
Martin Luther said, "The Church heareth none 
but Christ:" So said the beloved subject of our 
memorial in everything he undertook. The ideas 
of Church government in the church of his choice 
he found rather vague and undefined, and used 
successfully his influence to harmonize and make 
" One in Christ Jesus." A church covenant was 
adopted, and he began from the first to infuse his 
hopeful spirit into his people and induce them 
to commence at once the building of a church. 

June 20 the Sabbath-school Anniversary was 
established, and July 15 to 20, the society raised 
their first meeting-house, on the corner of Mave- 
rick and Breman streets. August 12 he gave the 
Thursday lecture at Chauncy Place Church, and 
September 12 preached in the College Chapel 
at Cambridge. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 21 

The ladies of his society had been busy all 
this while preparing for a fair to raise money 
for the new church, and on Wednesday and 
Thursday, the eighth and ninth of December, it 
was held at Union Hall, corner of Washington and 
Essex streets, and was quite successful. They 
had commenced worship in their vestry November 
14, and the little church was completed and fur- 
nished by the ladies at a cost of nine hundred 
and seventy dollars, and they gave their pastor 
about forty dollars' worth of books. The church 
was dedicated December 29. The invocation was 
by Rev. C. Robbins ; selections from Scripture 
Rev. J. I. T. Coolidge ; salutation of the churches, 
Rev. F. D. Huntington ; sermon by the pastor, 
from the text, "Who am I, and what is my 
people, that we should be able to offer so wil- 
lingly after this sort ? for all things come of 
Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee ; " 
prayer of dedication, Rev. Calvin Lincoln ; thus 
was their first New Year inaugurated in the church. 

A very strong element in our ■ brother's charac- 
ter was indicated by his selection of his text, 



22 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

which was Humility. Under that dauntless will 
he was one of the most humble Christians I have 
ever known. Sensitive to a fault, his trust was 
where it was never betrayed, and he could ever 
preserve that genial, kindly manner which seemed 
to win all hearts. 

In the spring of 1853 he preached a series 
of six doctrinal lectures, presenting also a printed 
statement of the Unitarian belief to all who 
wished, and so impressed were the East Boston 
people with his earnestness, that his society had 
increased from between fifty and sixty families 
in February, 1852, to between ninety and one hun- 
dred in March, 1853. 

In September forty-one dollars were contributed 
for the benefit of sufferers in Mobile by yellow 
fever. In October one hundred and twenty dol- 
lars, by the Sunday-school and parish, for a musi- 
cal instrument for the vestry, and over one 
hundred and fifty dollars were given during the 
year by the ladies of the Sewing Circle to bene- 
fit the Sunday-school and farther furnish the 
parish parlor. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 23 

In September he preached again at the College 
Chapel at Cambridge. 

In 1854 there were one hundred and eight 
families connected with the society, and the Sun- 
day-school and society were represented by eight 
members at a Sunday-school convention held at 
Worcester in October. It was also represented 
at the Unitarian Autumnal Convention held at 
Montreal, by five members. 

In 1855 the good work went on, and his first 
Anniversary sermon was preached March 18. 

Contributions were made to the Sunday-school 
Society", a new society at Washington Village, and 
to a poor society in Kansas. One hundred and 
seventeen families were connected with us. 

Sunday, June 3, 1855, is the first time, I 
think, he addressed the Young Men's Christian 
Union, then in Bedford street; also his first va- 
cation. — "Sunday, August 26: — Spent the day 
listening to the preaching of Niagara Falls." 

He was elected to the School Committee Board 
this year, and with the exception of the years 
i860, '6i, '62, '63, '64, served thirteen years — 



24 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

undl 1873 ; and at the close of his service was 
chairman of the Girls' High and Normal School. 
The local papers, teachers and pupils bore wit- 
ness to faithful service in that capacity also. 

In 1856 one hundred and nineteen families 
were connected with his society. He was this 
year elected Secretary of the Unitarian Sunday- 
school Society, and editor of its paper, The 
Sunday-school Gazette. He was ever intensely in- 
terested in the Sunday-school, and continued in 
the office till the year of our civil war. 

His work had increased yearly outside of his 
society. It was soon known that his large heart 
took in all he could reach, and the " Great 
Unchurched ; ' claimed him in their troubles, and 
he never refused his aid. His motto was : 

God speed thee', struggling brother I 

All blessings on thy head! 
May we be one in labor, 

Till to temptation dead. 



And, 



I dare not idle stand 
While over all the land 
Poor wandering souls need humble help like mine; 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 25 

Brighter than brightest gem 
In monarch's diadem, 
Each soul a star in Jesus' crown may shine. 

And, 

Give ! as the morning that flows out of heaven ; 
Give ! as the waves when their channel is risen ; 
Give ! as the free air and sunshine are given ; 

Lavishly, utterly, ceaselessly give. 
Not the waste drops of thy cup overflowing, 
Not the faint sparks of thy hearth ever glowing, 
Not a pale bud from the June roses blowing — 
Give as He gave thee who gave thee to live. 

The following is one of his own poems, written 
when he was about twenty years of age : 

LABORARE EST ORARE. 

" Work is worship " — mute, but meaning, 
Daily toil a prayer for bread ; 

Men from idle habits weaning, 
That the hungry may be fed. 

Thou whose hand is worn or wasted, 
Frame with toil or trouble bent, 

Ne'er regret grief to have tasted, 
Time thus passed is nobly spent. 

Champions in the cause of learning, 
Armed for freedom's holy strife ; 



26 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Hearts for truth and justice yearning, 
Cease from labor but with life. 

Thou in Mammon's temple bending, 
Every thought absorbed in gold, 

Will thy wish be Heavenward tending, 
When the sum of life is told? 

Ye who haunt the halls of pleasure, 
Crowd the dance with giddy feet — 

Onward press — fill full the measure, 
Slowly weaves your winding sheet. 

Death, that grim, relentless spectre, 
Soon will close life's feeble span ; 

Nature's tireless debt collector, 
Heaven's last messenger to man. 

Toil on, then, and toil on ever, 
In your God-appointed sphere ; 

Cease from your exertions never ! 
Onward, upward, persevere. 

And so he did, and the year 1857 found him 
leading and encouraging his society unto every 
good work. His musical ability he had utilized 
from the first, establishing an adult singing-school 
one evening of the week, and a juvenile school 
Saturday afternoon. The Washington Literary 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 27 

Society was formed among the young people of 
the society and others, and gave its first exhibi- 
tion March 16, of this year, and was very credit- 
ably sustained. A concert was given in the 
church Fast Day evening entirely by home talent, 
at which Mr. Cudworth not only sung a sacred 
song, " The Church," but played the organ ac- 
companiment for the whole concert. 

In May he took a trip to St. Louis and re- 
turned much refreshed. In 1858 another concert 
was given on Fast Day evening, at which Mr. 
Cudworth sang " Honor and Arms," from the 
Oratorio of Sampson ; and from one of the papers 
of the day I copy the following : 

The concert of sacred music at the Unitarian Church is 
spoken of on all hands as being a very enjoyable as well 
as profitable occasion. The performers — numbering about 
forty — were, without exception, we believe, from the society 
worshipping there, and their success reflects much credit 
upon the worthy pastor and his intelligent people. 

The temperance question was also early intro- 
duced, and at the Sunday-school anniversary, held 
June 20, a Band of Hope. was organized, and 



28 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

temperance songs sung. A local paper in refer- 
ring to the occasion said: 

Hon. Frederick W. Lincoln, the Mayor, was present and 
added not a little to the interest of the occasion by his 
admirable address. The exercises throughout were of the 
most interesting character. Few pastors devote so much 
time to the interests of their Sabbath-school as Rev. Mr. 
Cudworth, and very few can show so interesting and flour- 
ishing a school. The children have raised twenty-five dol- 
lars for the Children's Mission, and sixty-six dollars and 
eighty-eight cents of the one hundred dollars pledged to 
help remove the church debt. In considering the Band of 
Hope, which through Mr. Cudworth's unwearied exertions 
has grown up in his society, we wish that all the religious 
societies on the Island would show as great a hope for 
posterity. 

Mr. Cudworth was among the first to see the 
necessity of more time for the Sunday-school, and 
in April of this year, as superintendent, com- 
menced the afternoon sessions of the school, 
which have been continued ever since. 

In January, 1859, the pastor and superinten- 
dent presented to each member of the Sunday- 
school a New Year's card, accompanied by an 
original poem. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 29 

A HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

A Happy New Year ! to the lambs of his flock, 

Your pastor most earnestly says ; 
A Happy New Year ! filled with blessings to all 

He fervently wishes and prays. 
A year crowned with mercies each morning anew 

May God his rich bounties bestow, 
And fresh every evening the gifts of his love 

Full and free from his treasury flow. 

A Happy New Year ! is your pastor's fond wish ; 

O, walk in the fear of the Lord ; 
Let the words of your mouths and the thoughts of your hearts 

Acceptable be to your God. 
Form good resolutions, and pray for God's grace 

To teach you to keep them aright; 
And never forget that his love and his care 

Are round you by day and by night. 

A Happy New Year ! be the lambs of His fold, 

Who loves you and calls you His own ; 
Who will guide you through life, and give you at last 

A place in His glorious home. 
To Jesus, your Shepherd, your strength and your hope, 

O, lambs to that Shepherd most dear, 
Your pastor commends you and earnestly prays 

A Happy, a Happy New Year. 

In February, the juvenile singing-school closed 



30 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

its winter term by a concert, conducted by its 
teacher, which was well commended. In April 
our busy worker gave the Thursday lecture at 
Chauncy Place Church. At the Sunday-school 
Anniversary in June it was learned that the 
Band of Hope, formed one year before, now num- 
bered two hundred and fifty-one members, of whom 
but one had broken the pledge. This year were 
formed the Improvement and the Music Clubs ; 
the latter for the cultivation of the higher musi- 
cal ability of the society, and the former for 
bringing anything of interest to instruct or amuse 
its members. There are now two large cabinets 
of. curiosities, contributed by its members and 
friends, in the parish parlor of the church. 

In July the Club enjoyed a pleasant excursion 
to Nahant. In September a concert was given 
by the members of the Sabbath-school, of which 
an evening paper said : — 

At the Unitarian Church, in the evening, a Sabbath-school 
concert was held of surpassing interest. A new and prom- 
inent feature was a description of Palestine by nine or ten 
young ladies, in rotation — several of them, drawing from 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 31 

memory, portions of the map of the Holy Land. This part 
of the services was delightful and instructive. Then there 
were questions and answers about the Mosaic Law, par- 
ticularly with regard to slavery, which indicated that the ad- 
mirable superintendent and school were sound on that great 
question — as sound as Holy Writ. The recitations by the 
little ones were charming, and the singing by the whole 
school was choice and good. 

In October an Old Folks' Concert was given. 
The Autumnal Convention of the " Sunday-school 
Society " was also held this month at Portsmouth, 
and the Annual Report given by our active 
worker, as secretary of the society. 

Christmas week a series of entertainments were 
arranged for removing the small debt on the 
church, which were entirely successful, and the 
New Year was welcomed — " Out of Debt ! " 

The year i860 was full of the discontented 
mutterings of our Southern brethren, and church 
life was not so prominent anywhere ; but our 
earnest worker was never idle, and never con- 
cealed his real feelings in regard to the approach- 
ing crisis. Yet he never intruded them, and 
never preached political sermons. 



32 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

He gave again in April the Thursday lecture 
at the First Church, Chauncy Place. A mission 
circle had been formed from the Sunday-school to 
seek out the poor and needy, and help them, 
and on Fast Day evening, April 13, an entertain- 
ment was given to raise funds for its use. Our 
brother was never afraid to call things by their 
right names, and if the members of his Sunday- 
school gave a parlor drama, he did not call 
it a dialogue. The dramatic element was strong 
in his character, but not the sensational. He was 
too unpretentious to be sensational. So he en- 
couraged the performance of little dramas, be- 
cause he thought that what God had implanted 
in us we had a right to enjoy; and because he 
hoped to make it possible to free them from 
objectional thought . or language. 

The Sunday-school Anniversary was held June 
17, and proved interesting as usual ; and the 
Convention was held in October, at Fitchburg. 
It was during this month that he saw in an 
evening paper that a young girl had died in the 
cars on her way back to Boston, and recogniz- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 33 

ing the name, he went at once to the under- 
taker's where the body had been removed, and 
found it was the orphan girl he supposed, and 
formerly one of his Sunday-school. He had her 
removed with all a father's care to East Boston, 
and buried from his church — the Sabbath-school 
putting up a neat stone at her grave. 

It was not strange that his Sunday-school was 
so large at his death. His great heart took in 
the circumstances of each child, even remember- 
ing every name, and if he could assist by advice, 
procuring situations, or in any other way, they 
were sure of his help. He followed them even 
when overcome by temptation they fell, and were 
suffering the penalty of broken law, and by his 
advice and assistance either mitigated the sen- 
tence or released the sorrowing one. 

The usual social festival was held at Christ- 
mas, while all were moving, as it were, with 
"bated breath," awaiting the developments of our 
troubled times. The society had been feeling for 
some time that its limits were too narrow, and 
had proved so much in earnest, that a New 



34 REV - WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Church Society had been formed, with regular 
officers to create and sustain an interest, and 
provide for a large fair. But all was now held 
in abeyance for the country that needed our 
help ; and when the die was cast, the proceeds of 
our New Church Society were transferred to the 
Soldiers' Aid. 

Who, that was old enough to realize it, will 
ever forget that Sabbath morning in April, 1861, 
when the news was flashed to us that Fort 
Sumter had been attacked and evacuated ? 
My patriotic brother was very calm, but early 
Monday morning found him at the State House 
offering his services as chaplain. They were ac- 
cepted, and he then began to make his prepara- 
tions to go when the summons should come. 
In January the following had appeared in our 
local paper, and as the editor has long been in 
his better home, I take more pleasure in . copy- 
ing it, as showing how the dear brother was 
recognized in the long ago, not by the partial 
eyes of a sister, but by one whose province it 
was to judge by results: 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 35 

Mr. Editor: — Although I live "away down East," I am 
much interested in your paper, and read it every week. A 
short time ago my curiosity was much excited while read- 
ing it, to know what kind of a Christmas " bag " that 
was the minister gave to all the teachers and scholars 
belonging to the Sabbath-school in his parish. It was 
something so unusual for a pastor to make presents to his 
people, that I should like to know more about it. I hope 
you will gratify my desire, for there may be others who 
would like to know too. 

We thank our friend and correspondent, returns the 
editor, for her " curiosity," for it enables us to bear a 
pleasant testimony to a devoted and beloved pastor, not 
ours, but an East Boston pastor, whom his people so 
prize, and who so loves his people, that we have no fear 
that this blazonry of his merits will result in a " call " 
that will sever their union. Our correspondent thinks it 
unusual for a pastor to make presents, and we believe it 
is. We know of no minister who does it but this one. 
Perhaps when we have told what we happen to know, 
others may think it well to " go and do likewise." 

Rev. Warren H. Cudworth is the pastor of the Uni- 
tarian Church in East Boston. He has not the reputation 
of being an extraordinary preacher, but the history of his 
pastorate has proved that there may be an eloquence of 
lr.bor more charming than words and more effectual in 
building up a society. Mr. Cudworth came to East Bos- 
ton — then just from college — we would say seven or eight 
years ago, and commenced preaching to the little Unitarian 
Society — a society so small and feeble that it had not 
been able to retain any of its preachers, and had no meet- 



36 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

ing-house. We are not posted in dates, but very soon 
after he commenced his labors, the society had so much 
increased, and liked their minister so well, that they built 
a neat and convenient church. They have steadily increased 
since, till now their church, at first amply large, is crowded 
at every service ; and many families who wish to attend , 
cannot for want of seats. The society talk of building a 
larger house, and it is to be hoped that before many 
months they will do so. It was not till about two years 
ago that we became much acquainted with Mr. Cudworth's 
pastoral character. We have said that he is a devoted 
man. Like Paul, he is determined to know nothing but 
his work. Of this work his Sunday sermons, though thought- 
fully prepared, are the least part. He feels a personal in- 
terest in each member of his large congregation, is fre- 
quent in his pastoral visits, and social in his intercourse 
with all his people. In the rising generation he takes a 
parental interest ; having no family of his own, he has 
adopted the children of the whole parish ! He is the presi- 
dent and life of a society for mutual improvement among 
the adult members of his congregation. This society meet 
monthly, we believe, for the advancement of its object. 
Its meetings are of a social and intellectual character. 
The exercises are various — sometimes dramatic reading, 
sometimes a colloquial lecture, or several, are given by 
members, on some scientific or historical subject. Every 
member is required to contribute some fact or some cu 
riosity of science, and prepare him or herself to discourse 
upon it at the meeting. The influence of this society upon 
the social and intellectual character of the members is 
most beneficial. But Mr. Cudworth gives his special at- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 37 

tention to the Sunday-school — the best conducted one we 
ever saw. In saying this we hope we do not detract from 
the merits of other schools. We have prosperous schools 
and devoted teachers in nearly every society in East Bos- 
ton. The Congregationalists, the Methodist, and the Bap- 
tists — of whom we happen to know something — have 
schools that do them credit, and pastors whom they love 
and prize. Doubtless the same might be said of the other 
denominations. But Mr. Cudworth's school has struck us 
as remarkable. We do not believe there is a better one 
in New England. It numbers four hundred scholars ; and 
we think that every one of these scholars, from oldest to 
youngest, is an exception to the general character which 
Shakespeare has too truly drawn. They go willingly and 
even delightedly to school. He has an insatiable love for 
children, and his whole labor for them is a labor of love. 
This is the secret of his success. He has such a way of 
imparting instruction, and studies so well the tastes and 
wants of little minds, that he makes all the school exer- 
cises interesting to them as well as profitable. We are 
not able to give a detailed sketch of the school ; but the 
best proofs of its excellence are the facts of the children's 
wonderful progress and strong attachment to it. They fre- 
quently have exhibitions which fill the meeting-house to 
overflowing with the happy children and delighted parents ; 
and at the end of each year they celebrate their anniver- 
sary. Whether their exhibition on last Christmas eve was 
their regular anniversary, we are not able to say ; but 
they had a great meeting and a grand time among the 
little ones on that occasion ; and at the end of the exer- 
cises every scholar received a Christmas bag neatly made 



38 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

of white paper, and filled with — mustn't open it till you 
get home. This from the pastor ; and though every little 
recipient was blest to overflowing on that occasion, we 
doubt not that the giver's great heart was more blest than 
they all. We trust our correspondent is answered, and 
when she comes to East Boston, we hope she will call 
and see this school. In our view, it is one of the really 
good things in East Boston. 

The Improvement Club gave an entertainment 
in February of readings and music, and a con- 
cert was also given on Fast Day evening by a 
fine quartette. In May the following appeared 
in the Boston Journal: 

One of the most intensely interesting meetings of anni- 
versary week occurred last Tuesday evening in the vestry 
of the Hollis Street Church. At the close of the exercises 
of the Sunday-school Society in the afternoon, a collation 
was served by the ladies of the church, and it was there 
announced that Rev. Mr. Cudworth, who has been for 
many years the Secretary of the Sunday-school Society, 
had been that morning elected Chaplain of the First 
Regiment Mass. Vol., and would probably leave in a few 
days for the seat of war. A resolution was offered by 
Rev. Mr. Putnam of Roxbury, expressing the regrets of 
the society at losing so faithful a servant, and the wish 
that God might be with him and bless him in the per- 
formance of his patriotic duties. Eloquent and fervent re- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 39 

marks were made by the various clergymen present, and 
after the resolution had passed, Mr. Cudworth being called 
upon, made a short and touching reply in words which 
went directly to the hearts of every person in the room. 
It seemed as if the spirit of inspiration was breathing 
around. The feeling and interest became at length so in- 
tense as to find expression only in prayer, and the Divine 
blessing on our brother was asked by Rev. Dr. Hall of 
Providence. The First Regiment is to be congratulated in 
having secured the services of such a chaplain as Mr. Cud- 
worth. He emphatically gives himself to the cause, and from 
personal acquaintance, we know it is no mean gift. He is 
a man of ripe religious experience, and what is not less 
important, of ripe experience with humanity. A large and 
flourishing society in East Boston, which he has built up 
almost entirely by his own efforts, will testify at once to 
his zeal and ability. Though not what is technically 
called an " Evangelical," he is not the less a true Chris- 
tian. Thousands of children who have known him as the 
editor of the Sunday-School Gazette, will follow him with 
their prayers; — and we venture to say that every man in 
the regiment will find him not only a good teacher, but 
also a warm personal friend. Mr. Cudworth is the fourth 
person that the Unitarian denomination has furnished in 
Massachusetts to act as the soldiers' spiritual guide. May 
God bless him and his labors in this new sphere of 
duty! 

June 1 he went into camp with the regiment, 
and Sunday, June 2, resigned the pastorate of 



40 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

his church; but the parish unanimously requested 
him to withdraw it, and supply the pulpit dur- 
ing his absence. He therefore secured the Rev- 
erend Caleb D. Bradlee of Roxbury to occupy 
the pulpit till his return. Sunday, June 9, he 
preached at Camp Ellsworth to his regiment, and 
Saturday, June 15, they left Boston for the seat 
of war. 

Ever true to himself and his higher instincts, 
our brother soon found the work awaiting him 
in his new sphere, as the following letters will 
testify ; 

Washington, D. C, June 26, 1861. 
My Dear Friends and Parishioners : — Since I wrote 
you last, I have been through a week of the experiences of 
camp life in earnest. To my great gratification, every night 
at ten o'clock precisely, a lieutenant of the Guard goes 
throughout the camp with the order " lights out." It re- 
minded me strongly of our vestry meetings, and really 
seemed quite homelike. Last Sunday was a busy day for 
me, after my work began. The service hour was eleven 
o'clock, but the men were not assembkd until twelve, and 
then in the open air, with no shelter between them and 
a broiling sun. My pulpit was a one-horse wood-cart, with 
a trunk in it, and when I began, the audience seemed 
totally disinclined to listen. Some held the Testaments I 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 41 

gave them upside down, others turned their backs upon 
me, and some did various little cunning things on the 
sly, which they thought unseen. But I had kept a lesson 
for some of them too long to give up its application 
without a struggle ; so I went on. I had seen them gam- 
ble, heard them swear ; knew they had stolen from and 
quarrelled with each other ; and having something to say 
about these things, I proceeded to say it. To my surprise 
they began to listen, turned round and looked me in the 
face, and when I referred to the State, the city, the mothers, 
wives and families whom such actions were disgracing, — 
as well as themselves, — some began to wipe their eyes. 
I saw the right cord had been touched, and soon con- 
cluded, giving out notices that there would be a Sunday- 
school in the afternoon, and prayer meeting during the 
week. I offered also to write, direct, and forward letters, 
to supply stationery, and the articles furnished in the chest 
filled the day I started, by the ladies of my society. I 
was very soon busy directing letters, etc., and at two 
o'clock found some thirty persons assembled in and around 
my tent, to commence the Sunday-school. This was cer- 
tainly encouraging, and to work we went with a will. 

When seven o'clock came, the school having been dis- 
missed, I found Hon. Henry Wilson, and two gentlemen 
from Boston, guests at our mess, who spent, however, but 
a short time with us. Then came the evening prayer 
meeting. It was a hazardous experiment to hold such a 
meeting at all under the circumstances ; but convictions of 
duty led me on, and we persevered. All denominations 
were represented, and God was with us. Sectarian differ- 
ences were entirely forgotten, and we were all one in 



42 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Christ Jesus, our great common Lord. So much was the 
meeting enjoyed, that we have held one every evening 
since ; and I know that great good must follow them. 
We have been visited by the Florence Nightingale of 
America, Miss Dix, but as yet, thank God, have had no 
occasion for her services, or those of her equally devoted 
assistants. I know of nothing the soldiers need now ex- 
cept a new uniform, money, female society, and better 
morals ; all of which in time I hope may be supplied. 
God bless you, my dear friends, now and forever, prays 
Your ever affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

Neither was the patriotic mother forgotten, as 
the following will show : 

Washington,. D. C, July 12, 1861. 
My Dear Mother: — I have just received your letter, 
and believe it is the longest and best one you have written me 
since I was a boy. I am rejoiced to know that you feel so 
patriotic. Many people talk patriotism very easily. You 
have shown yours by bidding " God speed " to your only 
son, and if he is called to give up his life, you will have 
the blessed consolation of knowing that he died in the 
discharge of duty. I am still hard at work here, though 
not quite so well as when I wrote last. I attribute this 
to the water we are compelled to drink, which is quite 
muddy and full of lime ; especially after a shower. We 
have terrific thunder showers here, and I have twice got 
very wet. Many of our men are down sick, and one has 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 43 

died. Others must follow unless the camp is removed, 
which we hope may be very soon accomplished. Rest as- 
sured I shall take care of myself, and if I become too 
sick to attend to my duties in camp, shall go to Wash- 
ington where I can have the comforts of civilized life. 
As many as eight Boston and Massachusetts men have 
been out here to see the camp, and it seemed good to 
see their familiar New England faces. You need not be- 
lieve anything you see in the papers, for the reporters 
catch up every idle rumor they hear, and send it to them 
as reliable information. I will keep you posted in the real 
occurrences, so please not be troubled by anything the pa- 
pers may say. 

Truly your affectionate son, 

Warren. 

The following was to the Rev. Mr. Bradlee, 
who was supplying his home pulpit : 

Fort Albany, Aug. 12, 1861. 

My Dear Bradlee: — The Mass. 1st has become much 
smaller than when it left Boston. Battles, discharges and 
desertions have taken away nearly three hundred men — 
but recruiting is going on with great activity, and the ranks 
will soon be full again. Washington is quiet as you sup- 
pose, but it is because Congress has gone. Military men 
are easy enough to manage, but members of Congress who 
can handle ? 

It rejoices my heart greatly to hear such good news of 
my Sunday-school ; that the ranks are so full, the spirit so 



44 REV - WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

genial, and the determination to progress so general. God 
speed, help, and bless them all, — teachers, superintendent, 
pupils and friends, — and may you grow stronger and 
stronger, and be thus enabled to carry on this part of your 
labor of love with more and more vigor and enjoyment. 
I know exactly how to sympathize with you in your feel- 
ings of inadequacy for the duties you are called upon to 
discharge, for I have had them hundreds of time. Who 
is sufficient for these things ? Only when remembering 
that all sufficiency is of God, have I been able to press 
forward and take courage. But they write me that you are 
beginning to look fatigued. Now don't let that earnest 
spirit of yours make you unmindful of the body which 
encases it. You must take care of the machinery, you 
know, or the steam is useless and the fire wasted. I 
should much like to take a peep into your brother's mu- 
seum. Present him my warmest thanks for the proposed 
treat to Christ's little ones in East Boston. "Verily I 
say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward." 
That I am fortunate in getting you to attend to my charge 
is my constant feeling, for you give satisfaction and are 
doing good. Who could desire more ? 
Cordially yours, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

The following interested the Sunday-school : 

Camp Union, Bladensburg, Sept. 18, 1861. 
Dear Members of the Sunday-school: — I write you 
a letter this week about the President's House in Wash- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 45 

ington, which some one of you may occupy perchance — 
which many of you will live to say who shall occupy. It 
was commenced in 1792, and modeled after the palace of 
the Duke of Leicester. It is one hundred and seventy feet 
long, and eighty-six wide, built of freestone painted white, 
and hence called the " White House." The rooms are 
large and high, the great banqueting room being eighty 
feet long, forty feet wide, and twenty-two high. They are 
furnished at great expense every four years, and Govern- 
ment pays the bill. When first erected, this great house 
was an object of universal ridicule. Oliver Wolcott, in 
1800, said: 

" It was built to be looked at by visitors and stran- 
gers, and will render its occupant an object of ridicule 
with some, and of pity with others. It must be cold 
and damp in winter, and cannot be kept in tolerable order 
without a regiment of servants." Mrs. President Adams, 
writing to her daughter in Quincy, Mass., said: "The 
house is upon a grand and superb scale, requiring about 
thirty servants to attend and keep the apartments in 
proper order, and perform the ordinary business of the 
house and stables. The lighting of the apartments from 
kitchen to parlors and chambers is a tax indeed, and the 
fires we are obliged to keep to secure us from daily agues 
is another very cheering comfort. To assist us in this 
great castle, and render less attendance necessary, bells 
are wholly wanting, not one being hung through the whole 
house, and promises are all one can obtain. This is so 
great an inconvenience that I know not what or how to 
do. If they would put me up bells, and let me have 
wood enough to keep fires, I design to be pleased. But 



46 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

surrounded with forests, can you believe that wood is not 
to be had, because people cannot be found to cut and 
cart it? The house is made habitable, but not an apart- 
ment is finished, and without, there is not the least yard 
or fence. I make of the great unfinished audience room 
a drying room to hang up clothes in." When Washington 
was captured by the British they paid a visit to the 
" White House." They found the table all spread, and 
covers laid for forty guests, in view of a welcome to the 
city's victorious defenders. The plates were warming at 
the grate, meats cooking on the spits, and everything made 
ready for a sumptuous repast; but the occupants had all 
fled. After indulging in many a joke at the expense of 
the "Yankee President," and helping themselves to what- 
ever they wished, they set the house on fire and departed. 
It did not burn long, however, and during the next year 
was repaired and re-occupied. Ever since that time it has 
been the official residence of our country's chief magis- 
trate, and though now considered quite insufficient to 
represent the dignity and answer the demands of his high 
office, it is the mansion where dwells Honorable Abraham 
Lincoln, now occupying the President's chair. The build- 
ing is now sadly out of repair, being about seventy years 
old, and in i860 the officer who has charge of it, reported 
that the roof was at first so poorly constructed as to need 
constant repairs, and after everything had been done that 
could be, it leaked so badly as greatly to disfigure and 
injure the ceilings, and unless some thorough work was 
soon done upon it, it would become uninhabitable. Plow 
strange a thing it is that a house against which so much 
has been said, should never want an occupant, nay, that 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 47 

there should be hundreds and thousands of our wealthiest 
and greatest men ready to give up all they are worth to 
live in it for four years I 

On the lawn just in front of the house, is a bronze 
statue of Jefferson, ■ which was purchased by Captain 
Levy of the Navy, many years ago, and offered to the 
United States Senate, but as it was not accepted, it re- 
mains where he placed it. You may imagine that the 
occupant of a dwelling so spacious, and the recipient of 
honors so regal, must be very happy, but quite opposite 
is the fact. " Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown," 
is as true of Presidents as of Kings, and no man in this 
country bears a heavier burden of care than its envied 
Chief Magistrate. 

Your sincere friend and superintendent, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

The following, to his parish, well illustrates his 
self-sacrificing character: — 

Bladensburg, Sept. 26, 1861. 
My Dear Parishioners: — I am glad to know that in 
compliance with the request of the American Unitarian 
Association, you have recently taken up a contribution to 
aid that body in providing reading matter for the army. 
It is like you to respond to calls such as this, though 
the storm probably made your response smaller than if 
there had been a full church. There is no restraint, how- 
ever, to the liberality and patriotism of any Christian soul. 



48 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

The doors of the Unitarian Association's Treasury are al- 
ways open, and seldom, I imagine, are their receipts in ex- 
cess of their expenditures. It is more blessed to give than 
to receive, for the country, for Christ, for truth and lib- 
erty. The best thing about this precept is that it is true 
whether we believe and feel it or not. I suppose there 
are very few individuals really and practically convinced 
that it is better to give money, life, love, than to receive 
them, but it is so, nevertheless, and whoever lives in this 
spirit, with a heartfelt appreciation of its glory and privi- 
lege — or from a mere sense of duty — will in no wise lose 
his reward. Never did the country, the world, or the com- 
munity about you offer more ample opportunities for prac- 
tising this precept than now. May I not hope that many, 
if not all, of you will be found faithful and diligent in its 
observance ? The world needs to be Christianized, the coun- 
try to be freed from the perils of anarchy and overthrow, 
the community to be fed, clothed and cheered, during the 
rigors of the approaching winter. Feet must be swift, 
hands busy, and means liberally disbursed, or these needs 
will fail of supply. At the conclusion of that sublime dis- 
course on death and immortality which is recorded in 
First Corinthians, fifteenth chapter, Paul says to the 
church at Corinth what is most appropriate under this 
head, and which I desire to quote in concluding this let- 
ter to you : " Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stead- 
fast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the 
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in 
vain in the Lord." 

Your ever affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 49 

This to his parish, enforcing the practical nature 
he sought to inculcate in religious matters : 



Bank of the Potomac, near Doncaster, 
A r ov. 2, 1861. 
My Dear Parishioners : — How prone we are to con- 
sider earthly circumstances and surroundings permanent, 
and defer preparation for the only permanent condition an 
inheritor of immortality can enter. I was very forcibly re- 
minded of this when our regiment struck their tents at 
Bladensburg recently, and prepared for their long march 
to this spot. They had two or three times as much bag- 
gage as they were allowed to carry, and much of it had 
to be thrown away, much left behind and stored at Gov- 
ernment expense. They had known that only so much was 
allowed to a man ; that we were liable to be called at 
any moment; yet one had been tempted to buy a table, 
another a nice chair, another a little camp stove, another 
a new kind of a bed, another a patent washstand, or 
messchest, or clothes' preserver, or other famous and in- 
dispensable thing — while others had large quantities of ar- 
ticles sent by express from home, until the camp was 
stored with a thousand contrivances, impossible to carry, 
yet hard to leave behind. The order to march therefore 
came upon them like a thief in the night. They did not 
grumble at it by any means, but many of them were at 
their wits' ends to know what to do with their belong- 
ings. Finally, however, it was all in some way disposed 
of, and we were off. How much like life ! We go out 
into the world, and one is tempted to bring home property, 



$0 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

another office, another glory, another popularity, etc., etc., 
all cumbersome, and productive more of care than pleas- 
ure, all tending to produce oblivion of the true end for 
which we live, and the destiny for which we were created. 
"Take heed to yourself," said Jesus, referring to this very 
thing. " Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your 
hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and 
cares of this life, and so that day come upon you un- 
awares." " For as a snare shall it come on all them that 
dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, there- 
fore, and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy 
to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to 
stand before the Son of man." 

We are all but soldiers in camp, or pilgrims by the 
wayside, and is it not the extreme of folly to become so 
dazzled by the glitter of this world's vanities, so blinded 
by its cheats, allured by its shams, or burdened by its 
cares, as to have neither time nor inclination to prepare 
for immortality ? " Take heed to yourselves," dear friends, 
parishioners, fellow soldiers and pilgrims — " Take heed to 
yourselves," lest that day come upon you unawares. Watch 
and pray that your time may be always ready. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

The good cheer in the following letter was a 
comfort to the whole regiment: 

Camp Hooker, Dec. 5, 1861. 
My Dear Parishioners and Friends : — You will re- 
joice with me that the liberality of a friend in Boston has 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 51 

supplied our regiment with what every regiment so much 
needs — a chapel tent — but which Government never fur- 
nishes. In the army regulations it is strongly recom- 
mended that officers and men regularly attend divine ser- 
vice, but no place is provided where such service may 
be solemnized. Officers and men are also required to be 
temperate, moral, gentlemanly, and free from the use of 
profane language, but no provision is made to encourage 
efforts undertaken to induce temperance, morality and free- 
dom from profanity. All these things are left to the vol- 
untary action of the Field and Staff, or Line Officers, or 
to the men themselves. Every regiment needs, as you 
will readily perceive, a. large tent, where societies organ- 
ized to promote these ends may meet and furnish enter- 
tainment, attractive enough to draw in the rnen of the 
regiment, and awaken an interest for the cause represented. 
But how to get such a tent, — that's the question. Sev- 
eral regiments have tried to raise the requisite funds by 
private subscription ; but subscription papers are as little 
popular among soldiers as among civilians ; and I have not 
heard of one obtained in such a manner. Our regiment 
therefore was specially favored in having so generous a 
friend to supply this want out of his own pocket. You 
have read, doubtless, how the tent was dedicated, and 
somewhat about the meetings thus far held in it. To me 
they have been very interesting, especially those for con- 
ference and prayer. All denominations are represented, and 
a brotherly spirit pervades the atmosphere. All seem to 
enjoy the unusual experience of procuring the bread and 
water of life from the same heaven. As to the temper- 
ance and literary societies, the members have taken the 



52 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

whole control into their own hands, exactly as I- desired, 
making them their own affairs, to be upheld by their 
strength, and advanced by their efforts. They fill the of- 
fices, carry on the meetings, and work in the regiment to 
secure the largest possible cooperation. We hope in time 
to have a large majority, who will be staunch temperance 
men, and will spend their evenings and leisure time in 
reading and discussion, rather than in gambling, drinking, 
and vulgar or blasphemous conversation. It is possible 
that some other enterprises, like a singing meeting, a 
course of lectures, a series of concerts, etc., may be 
started, my intention, as at home, being to get up some- 
thing attractive and beneficial to all, each evening. Mean- 
time give me, dear friends, and give us all, your prayers, 
that we steadfastly resist temptation, and be found faith- 
ful in the discharge of our duties. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

It may have been forgotten by some that the 
chapel tent mentioned in this letter was presen- 
ted by William Cumston, Esq., and was but a 
tithe of the good done by this high-minded 
gentleman, who died the last of January, 1870. 
The tent, after its dedication, the last of Novem- 
ber, 1861, and called the "Cumston, ,, was in 
use every evening. The prayer meetings were 
held Sunday and Wednesday evenings, a tern- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 53 

perance society was formed and named the 
Cowdin Temperance Society, after their staunch 
temperance colonel, and a Literary Institute 
was called into being and named in honor of 
Mayor Fay of Chelsea, another true friend to 
the soldier. 

A brigade hospital was established in connec- 
tion with Camp Hooker, and in all ways possi- 
ble, the First Massachusetts Regiment seems to 
have been cared for. Accompanying a letter to 
the Traveller, our brother sent a fragment of a rebel 
shell which, to use his own words, " exploded within 
fifty feet of our chapel tent on Friday, the 
twenty-ninth of November, from the examination 
of which one can readily perceive the nature of 
the wound it would make. This shell came from 
the rebel battery at Shipping Point, Potomac 
River, and traversed a distance of three miles 
in fifteen seconds, before it struck. The shell 
was fired at our balloon. Indeed, this balloon 
was the object of a terrific cannonade for nearly 
an hour one day, showing how fond the rebels 
are of ' gas.' It was not hit once." 



54 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

The estimate in which he was then held was 
truly expressed in one of the evening papers : 

A good chaplain is a rara avis — at least those who 
have had considerable experience in our armies have so 
stated to me. Said a General not many day since, " If 
you hear the soldiers swearing freely in the presence of 
their chaplain, you can at once make up your mind that 
officer is not worthy the place he holds, and a regiment 
would be better without than with such an one." The 
force of this remark was brought to mind in a recent 
visit to the 1st Massachusetts, where, in a two hours' 
stay with the " boys," I heard less swearing than one 
could hear in fifteen minutes on Broadway, and no officer, 
not even their excellent colonel, was treated with more 
genuine respect than was Chaplain Cudworth by his mili- 
tary flock. His tent is always open ; his books and pa- 
pers are freely given and gratefully received by all, and I 
sincerely believe that in a great measure the effectiveness 
and valor of the " Old First " is due to the great moral 
and Christian influence of their much loved chaplain. He 
has never forsaken them ; in field, in battle, and in the 
camp he is always to be found doing his chosen duty 
with that untiring zeal and unflinching fortitude which 
draws the hearts of all in love to their Christian pastor 
and patriot. The invocation, pronounced extempore, for 
the blessing of the Almighty upon the banner of his reg 
iment, upon its fearless and tried defenders, and upon 
our country, delivered in the open field, in presence of 
our bronzed sons of war, and the distinguished company 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 55 

was worthy to have been written in letters of gold, and 
read throughout the land. With excellent field and line 
officers, with such intelligent material as composes the rank 
and file, and with a " Good Chaplain," the honor of old 
Boston will never be tarnished by its favorite regimental 
representative in our grand army. 

In this connection occurs to me a reunion of 
the officers of the "Old First," in the autumn 
after the close of the war, at which I for the 
first time saw the affection that could exist 
between men. Truly religion is a good thing to 
live by, and a safe thing to die by. " They 
that honor Me I will honor." 

And now follows a letter to Mr. Bradlee : 

Camp Hooker, Dec. 6, 1861. 
My Dear Bradlee: — I am very sorry to learn by your 
last that you have been sick. I hope you will heed 
the warning of the All-good Father, and take better care 
of vourself hereafter ; and that you will soon be able to 
bear the exertion of preaching again. Pray do not think 
of going into the Sunday-school, for you may bring on a 
relapse which will prove fatal ; — and don't chafe, my good 
brother, for it is part of the Master's work to " Let your 
moderation be known to all men — and Patience have her 
perfect work." Accept my heartfelt thanks again for the 
interest you have taken, the zeal you have manifested, and 



56 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

the labor you have bestowed to keep society matters at 
East Boston in good order — Here everything is uncertain. 
We have not gone into winter quarters, although it is win- 
ter, and the weather pretty severe. We know not, indeed, 
what a day may bring forth. Unless Congress emancipates 
the slaves, I am sure our armies will soon meet with a 
disastrous defeat. God means that this war shall break 
every yoke, and let all the oppressed go free ; and if man 
will not do this for humanity's sake, He will have to of 
necessity. Your anticipations about the conclusions of the 
war I was glad to get, though I cannot share them. When 
June comes I am fearful we shall find the end is not yet. 
But whatever comes, God sends it, or allows it, and so I 
say, for all things Laus Deo. 

Cordially yours, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

The practical sermons which he preferred to 
preach are well illustrated in the following let- 
ters to his people : 

Camp Hooker, Dec. 12, 1861. 
My Dear Parishioners: — Among the evergreens which 
I have found in the Maryland woods, is the bright and 
cheerful holly, famous in England, and used elsewhere on 
Christmas occasions, for decorating houses and churches. 
It abounds in the vicinity of our camp, and is now as 
stiff and green as it was in August. With other trees, and 
even with other evergreens, it presents a striking contrast, 
most of them having shed their leaves, and the others 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 



57 



looking pale and pinched by the frost. But this seems 
tenaciously to cling to its greenness, as though determined 
to retain of beauty and freshness all that God had be- 
stowed, until it had adorned the holiest festival of the 
Christian year. As I stood near one of these holly-trees 
this morning, the thought occurred to me that it was an 
excellent illustration of what the true Christian should be 
amid all the chilling experiences and cheerless prospects 
of life. He still should preserve fresh and green his con- 
fidence in, affection for, and loyalty to the Saviour. In 
all the year there is no time so fitting to consider these 
things as that day when the church celebrates the Re- 
deemer's birth. Then he should be born again in every 
heart, not as an humble Jewish babe, but as the rightful 
Master and glorious Lord of the soul. That he may be 
born anew in yours, dear parishioners, is the heartfelt 
Christmas wish, and daily, fervent prayer of your absent 
pastor. If you would have it so, fresh, green, and beau- 
tiful, he would keep your lives amid all the waste, the 
blight, the decay attendant upon human expectations. Mis- 
fortunes could not wither the blossoms of hope, opposition 
could not provoke the bitterness of hatred, nor beget the 
prostration of despair ; sickness and sorrow could not dry 
up the sources of happiness, and even death would have 
no sting, the grave no victory. So may it be with you 
all during the year to follow next Christmas Eve. May 
the blessed Son of God be born afresh in all your hearts, 
and keep them ever green like the holly which adorns 
sanctuary and home, prays 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. II. CUDWORTH. 



5^ REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

Camp Hooker, Dec. 20, 1861. 

My Dear People: — Next Wednesday is New Year's 
Day, and as then, or previously for settlement then, there 
will be a general reckoning up and adjustment of accounts, 
it seems peculiarly appropriate that we should run over 
our spiritual as well as temporal balance sheet; to find 
how the soul stands with God, and whether any progress 
has been made in the life divine. My own great respon- 
sibilities for years past has been the parish you constitute. 
How does it stand to-day? Not in numbers, wealth, re- 
spectability, or worldly influence, but in living, Christian 
spirituality. I asked myself this question under my favor- 
ite " holly," in the solemn and silent woods the other day, 
but the answer that conscience gave did not satisfy me ; 
so I came back to my tent, and there upon my table lay 
a letter from one of you, which seemed sent of God to 
answer it ; so I will quote a portion — O, that you all 
could write so ! 

" When I look back upon the events of my life," the 
letter reads, " I find none more prominent, or on which 
memory likes so well to dwell, as that of being connected 
with you and your church, and I now thank and bless 
you for good counsel and untiring efforts to promote my 
spiritual welfare. When I take a superficial, worldly view 
of our once happy, prosperous, and peaceful country, the 
picture it presents is awful in the extreme, and would 
seem to justify me in exclaiming, There is no God in 
Israel ! But I thank you. again, that through the Gospel of 
our Lord and Saviour I can exclaim, Surely there is a 
God in Israel, who will redeem his people, and cause 
each widow's moan to glorify Him, each orphan's tear to 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 



59 



be a tribute of praise to His holy name. I think I can 
perceive the gray dawn of a resurrection morning of peace, 
whose foundation principles, when established, shall be 
truth, justice and mercy, and then this nation will be 
God's nation, and this people His people." 

The writer then goes on to speak of his wife, and does 
it in a way so beautiful and touching, I cannot forbear 
its quotation. " I have been requested to remember to you 
one who is the joy of my heart and the light of my 
eyes ; one whose faith is unwavering and whose love is 
undiminished; one who by your assistance, and her own 
untiring efforts, has led and is still leading me upwards to 
the mark of the prize of our high calling in Christ 
Jesus." 

This is a long quotation, my dear people, but as it 
made me very happy, and will enable me to answer the 
question referred to in the beginning of this letter, to 
some extent, I have made it, hoping there may be others 
who could testify in a similar manner that my labor in 
the Lord has not been in vain among you. That it may 
soon be resumed again is now the constant and most 
earnest prayer of 

Your ever affectionate pastor, 

W. II. CUDWORTH. 

Camp Hooker, Dec. 31, i86r. 
My Dear People : — I have heard with peculiar satis- 
faction that another weekly prayer meeting has been started 
among you, and now that two opportunities are afforded 
each week in the parish for all who wish to hold direct 
personal communication with God. No parish news could 



60 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

have more rejoiced my heart. That you still hold together 
in bonds strong and harmonious ; that your life, interest, 
zeal, continue and abound ; that your numbers have suf- 
fered no diminution, nor your affection for your absent 
pastor any abatement, I rejoice; — but that you continue 
"instant in prayer," I more and more rejoice. No one 
who has ever offered an heartfelt prayer will ask the rea- 
son for my joy, for of all the privileges and pleasures of 
religion, this is chief I had rather have you, my dear 
friends, a praying people, than the wisest, the wealthiest, 
or doctrinally the most correct and best instructed people 
on earth There is no word, therefore, on this first Sun- 
day of the New Year, which I can send with more interest 
and feeling than this, that you all and always " pray and 
never faint," and that you watch and pray as Christ 
commanded his disciples. There were very few things 
which the great, the noble and heroic Paul asked other 
men to do for him ; but he most earnestly besought his 
brethren to " pray for him." Hardly an epistle does he 
write but you find the familiar request, " Pray for us." 
This shows how profound a conviction he entertained of 
the efficacy of prayer ; and he had authority for that con- 
viction. Experience had taught it, observation had con- 
finned it, and inspiration had sealed it as sure as the 
being of God. Sympathizing with him so truly from my 
inmost soul, let me earnestly entreat you to pray for your 
absent pastor ; that if it be God's will, he may be restored 
to you again \ that he may be instrumental while in the 
army of doing much good; that the men among whom he 
labors may be led to abhor that which is evil, and cleave 
to that which is good ; and that the holy cause of a 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 6 1 

God-sanctioned government of liberty and ]a\v, which he 
has come out to aid in sustaining, may receive the favor 
and help of Him who alone can give victory in hattle # 
Many and heartfelt thanks for the prayers which I know 
have ascended, and been answered too, for my good. More 
earnestly, more believingly, let them continue to ascend, 
and blest will be the soul, cheered the life, of 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 



In January, 1862, he learned that General 
William H. Sumner, deceased — whose ancestor 
had purchased the original " Noddle's Island,'*' 
in 1670, and which bad continued a part of the 
family estate till 1835, when it was conveyed to 
the East Boston Company — had the following in 
the second codicil of his will : " In all matters 
relating to the Sumner Library Association, and 
my bequests thereto, in which I have appointed 
William C. Barstow and Benjamin Pond to any 
trust or service, I wish Warren H. Cudworth of 
Boston to be associated with them, and to act 
jointly with them, and I hereby appoint the said 
Cudworth thereto." 

Also from the first codicil was the following : 



62 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

" I suggest to Mrs. Sumner, if she desires it, to 
employ either my friend Samuel Burnham, or 
Warren H. Cudworth of East Boston, as suitable 
persons to arrange my autographs, papers and 
letters." 

" Brother Bradlee " receives the next letter : 



Camp Hooker, Jan. 4, 1862. 
Rev. Brother Bradlee:— I am very glad to hear that 
you continue able to preach. The festival you spoke of I 
hope you could attend and enjoy. The keenest pang of 
separation I suffered on New Year's night. Other occa- 
sions are ordinary — that extraordinary. Love has ever 
been the inspiration of my efforts in East Boston, and on 
New Year's night it blossoms. But you have inhaled its 
fragrance, perchance, and seen its beauty — We continue in 
camp, and there is no prospect of a move. The earth is 
covered with ice, and the men are building solid log 
houses. I am in mine. It is ten feet square, with a can- 
vas roof and a large fireplace. We are still chopping 
wood, drilling, picketing, doing guard duty, and watching 
the enemy. Nothing more ; but the men are all ready to 
tread again the sacred soil, determined to hold or be 
buried in it. Your last Sunday's services are highy com- 
mended, especially the administration of the Lord's Sup- 
per, referred to as sweet and touching in the extreme. 
Such things gladden me, be assured. Please inform me 
if I owe you any letters and I will liquidate the debt, 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 63 

for one of the principles on which I live is to " Owe no 
man anything, but to love one another," as I do you, re- 
maining in affectionate fraternity, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

The following letter will be found exceedingly 
interesting to every Christian soul : 

Camp Hooker, Jan. 6, 1862. 

My Dear Parishioners: — I know I can write you noth- 
ing in which you will feel a deeper interest than a descrip- 
tion of our church and communion service last Sunday. 
Many church members in the regiment had felt the want 
of such a service, and of a specific church organization. 
To meet this want the following had been drawn up and 
accepted : 
Creed and Covenant of the First Mass. Reg. Church, formed 

and adopted near Fort Worth, Alexandria, Va., Oct. 5, 

1861. 

You believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of 
Heaven and earth. You believe in Jesus Christ, the only 
begotten Son of God, through whom cometh salvation. 
You believe in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, Quickener, 
and Sanctifier of the human soul. You believe in immor- 
tality, in the Holy Scriptures, in a judgment to come; — 
that it will be well with the righteous, and not well with 
the wicked. You believe in prayer, in the Church, and in 
the necessity of a righteous life. 

Covenant : — We, then, the members of this church, re- 
ceive you into our fellowship, and covenant to walk with 



64 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

you, so far as in us lies, according to the commands of 
our Divine Master, and Head, looking unto Him for an 
example, and striving to manifest towards each other, and 
all men, the spirit which He so constantly enjoined, and 
faithfully exhibited. 

Sunday, January 5, . 1862, was appointed for our first 
communion. We assembled in the chapel tent at three 
o'clock, without a fire, the weather raw and cold, ther- 
mometer below freezing point, and after indicating the 
principles upon which we could all agree in a homily 
based on the fourteenth chapter of Romans, I organized 
the church by reading the Confession of Faith and Cove- 
nant, to which twelve persons signified their assent, and 
to which, in a written form, they signed their names. 
There were Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Uni- 
tarians, but all denominational feeling seemed to be laid 
aside, and all fraternized like brothers. Next I gave the 
Right Hand of Fellowship to three, one a Baptist, another 
Orthodox, and the other Unitarian, who had never joined 
a church before. They seemed to be deeply affected by 
the ceremony, and signed their names to the Confession 
and Covenant with great feeling. 

We then proceeded to celebrate the Lord's Supper, and 
after prayer for the blessing of God upon the elements, 
half of the communicants came up, to whom I distributed 
the bread and passed the cup, the other half follow- 
ing in the same manner, I meantime quoting passages of 
Scripture relevant to the occasion, after which they returned 
to their places, and an opportunity was given for any one 
to make remarks before the meeting closed. The Rev. R. 
A. Russel from Michigan, now the blacksmith of Battery 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 65 

C, New York State Volunteers, spoke at some length and 
with great earnestness, after which the benediction was 
pronounced and the meeting concluded. The most gratify- 
ing feature to me in this new church organization is its 
entire freedom from sectarian limitations. There we all 
gathered in the war tent about Jesus the universal Lord, 
and each of us as it were, took him by the hand, each of 
us certainly felt him in the heart, and cared not whether 
our doctrinal quotations might prove Methodist, Baptist, 
Orthodox or Unitarian. Certain I feel that fifteen men 
went out of that tent solemnly resolved that they would 
try to be Christians. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

Camp Hooker, Jan. 22, 1862. 
My Dear People : — I cannot tell you how much it re- 
joiced me that you observed our annual custom New Year's 
night, and met together 111 the parish parlor. I seemed 
that night to stand there too, and take your hands, and 
hear your friendly words, and look into your eyes. O, how 
I blessed you all that night, as in my tent alone I bowed 
my head upon my hands, and brought up your friendly, 
loving faces one by one. It was comforting, though trying 
to me, and I blest God that he had given so many and 
such strongly attached friends. And since then how kindly 
and generously you have worked, at my solicitation, for 
the soldiers, for the cause of Union, Liberty and Law. 
How proud and happy you have made me that you en- 
tered upon this so heartily. God bless you! — and again I 
say, God bless you ! Let me exhort and entreat you to 



66 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

suffer nothing to lag among you, and no difference to 
creep in between you, but let this be a year of harmony 
and peace, of love and progress, like the years that are 
past. Pray for me as ever, only more earnestly, and, if it 
be God's will, that I may soon be restored to you. 

Your loving pastor, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

Camp Hooker, Feb. 12, 1862. 

My Dear People • — How wonderful are the ways of 
Providence. Were it proper for me to make public what 
has been said to me in confidence by various individuals, 
you would be assured that God deals with his children in 
\ way illustrated with peculiar aptness by our Saviour when 
he says, " The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou 
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it 
cometh or whither it goeth ; so is every one who is born 
of the Spirit." 

A young man has opened his heart to me, who at home 
was the cause of continual anxiety and fear. His parents 
were pious, but he just the opposite. They believed, he 
scoffed. They entreated, he resisted. They prayed, he 
laughed. And so he joined the army. Surrounded by pro- 
fane, reckless, unbelieving companions, with none of the 
neutralizing influences of home, his ruin seemed sure. But 
" God's ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our 
thoughts.*' The young man went on in transgression and 
insubordination until he was placed under arrest, and sent 
to the guard house. A court martial and disgrace seemed 
imminent; but God intervened. The young man was let 
off and became serious. His mother's prayers have been 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 67 

heard, and are about to be answered. He cannot shake 
off the feeling of guilt which burdens his soul. He is anx- 
ious, troubled, perplexed. God is dealing with him as 
with a son. He comes to me and I tell him what to do. 
He does it, and his companions laugh at, and persecute 
him, but he perseveres. He is happy now; happy! O, is 
it not worth everything we can give or endure to be happy, 
happy in God, in Christ, and in communion with the 
Spirit ? 

I saw two letters his delighted mother wrote him ; one 
the day he joined our church, and the other soon after. 
They were like the irrepressible outgushings of song which 
a bird in spring pours forth at sunrise. Joy ran along the 
lines, and seemed to tremble and quiver in every word. 
You who are mothers know just how she wrote. The hope, 
the prayer of years was answered, and so strangely ; in the 
army where the Church sacrament was to be administered 
in a cold tent, with twenty bearded men in uniform pres- 
ent. Of a truth she felt that 

God moves in a mysterious way, 
His wonders to perform. 

This is but one instance. One man had joined our reg- 
iment unable to read or write. Not vulgar nor profane, 
he had frequently left his mess, and sat an hour in the 
darkness outside, thinking and praying. He prayed, among 
other things, that I might teach him to read and write. 
To-morrow night I commence ; yet he did not come to me. 
He was afraid to, so God led me to him. And now it is 
beautiful to see how gratified he is. But think of the 



68 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

power of prayer. Think how wonderful God's providential 
dealings with his children. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

Camp Hooker, Feb. 25, 1862. 
My Dear Parishioners: — I was deeply impressed with 
the truth of Secretary Stanton's letter to the editor of the New 
York Tribune, which has recently appeared in the columns 
of that paper. The editor, in an article previously issued, 
had referred to the victory the new secretary had organized ; 
but Mr. Stanton refuses to acknowledge that man can or- 
ganize victory, and maintains that victory cometh from God, 
and to him belongeth the glory and praise. Having wit- 
nessed somewhat of the confusion and excitement attend- 
ing a battlefield, and arrived at this conclusion from my 
own observation, I was very much gratified to have it 
corroborated by Secretary Stanton's excellent letter. We 
owe our recent victories to God, and not to man. To God, 
as manifested in the righteousness of our cause, the una- 
nimity of our leaders, the wisdom of our generals, the in- 
trepidity of our troops, and the patriotic devotion of our 
people in counsel, in the field and at home. I have not 
ceased to thank God, therefore, many times a day, that it 
has pleased him to reward our efforts with such triumph- 
ant success, to endow our soldiers with such bravery, and 
their officers with such self-sacrificing fidelity to duty, when 
its discharge seemed certain death. And I exhort you, dear 
friends and parishioners, to go daily with me to the throne 
of grace, and pour out thanksgivings to the Author of all 
good, and the Bestower of every blessing, that he has so 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 69 

mercifully arrested the carnage and misery attending this 
unhappy war, and by the indications of his Providence 
seems to promise that ere many months elapse it shall be 
ended, and its calamities cease. Every rebel victory will 
prolong, and every Union success shorten it. Therefore let 
us pray that God would please to inspire Union states- 
men with wisdom, the officers with valor and firmness, the 
soldiers with courage and fortitude, and Union people at 
the North with vigor and energy, at the South with in- 
flexibility of purpose and patient waiting for the restoration 
of their rights. Be assured God will hear and answer 
prayers such as these. Though he may seem to tarry long, 
yet if we believe, and believing, pray, in due season we 
shall exchange " Joy for mourning, and the garment of 
praise for the spirit of heaviness." 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

Camp Hooker, March 5, 1862. 
My Dear People: — I heard with no little anxiety, a 
week ago last Monday, the roar of the furious gale which 
prostrated my chapel tent, tore the tarred papers from the 
roofs of our company's houses, and unroofed one of our 
officer's cabins, opening our regimental library in a very 
unceremonious manner ; — for I remembered a certain steeple 
which stands not far from where you now sit, and felt 
almost sure it would be laid low. Judge of my amaze- 
ment, then, at hearing that not ours, which I had always 
considered the weaker, but another I had supposed the 
strongest in East Boston, had been torn from its fasten- 
ings and overthrown. As truly as I rejoice in our escape 



JO REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

from such a disaster, so I sorrow that it has befallen 
another body of Christians: — but it suggests two lessons 
to which I would like to call your attention. Our steeple 
was weak, the other strong. Weakness was protection ; 
strength destruction. Ours yielded to the gale, and swayed 
with its power; the other stood strongly up in defiance, 
and now lies low in consequence. What says the Apostle ? 
" I glory in mine infirmities, for when I am weak, then 
am I strong." Let us not trust in, or rely upon, our own 
strength, and lift ourself up proudly above our fellows, for 
when the winds of trouble blow, the rains of sorrow fall, 
the floods of censure and misfortune come, we may fall 
utterly from our self-attained eminence. Let us feel deeply 
our own weakness, and trust wholly in the Arm of strength. 
Then in all our tribulations we shall be sustained, for the 
" Lord God is a sun and -shield ; the Lord will give grace 
and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that 
walk uprightly." 

Then our steeple was low, the other high. Had it been 
higher it would have caught the fierce breath of the same 
gusts, and bowed before them to the earth. But it was 
humble and lowly, and the wind passed over it. Behold 
how profitable is the grace of humility. " Blessed are the 
meek, for they shall inherit the earth." " He that exalteth 
himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself 
shall be exalted." So read we the lesson, my dear 
parishioners, and so it is sanctioned by the word of God. 
That you may feel your weakness and the Lord's strength, 
and receive grace for your lowliness, prays 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 7 1 

Camp Hooker, March 10, 1862. 
My Dear Parishioners: — To-day our regiment crossed 
the Potomac to reconnoitre, and if needful, skirmish with 
the enemy. For over four months we have been encamped 
on the Maryland bank, watching the movements over 
against us, and listening to the roar of rebel cannon, and 
the shriek of their shells. They have ceased. The batter- 
ies are evacuated, the guns spiked, the powder exploded, 
the shot and shell lie about to be gathered up in the 
service of a better cause than they have hitherto been 
forced to sustain. Our whole division will doubtless soon 
cross just below, so as to hold the railway to Fredericks- 
burg and Richmond ; and then unless the rebels retreat, 
or lay down their arms, will be enacted some of the most 
sanguinary scenes of the war. In the last three or four 
weeks the division has been kept in constant readiness to 
march at a moment's notice. Clothing and weapons have 
been in perfect order, provisions on hand, and the means 
of transportation lying just off shore. As a consequence, 
when the order came to cross over before daylight this 
morning, the men were ready. Their clothing was donned, 
their armor buckled on, their haversacks provided with one 
day's rations, and when the sun arose, they were on their 
way to the boats. I was filled with admiration to see 
how perfect our military system is when well carried out; 
and how easy it is, if a general can rely upon his men to 
plan the movements of large armies. And then I thought 
— Ah, if these, if all possessors of immortal souls, could 
be induced to make as careful and thorough preparation 
to cross the narrow stream of death as these soldiers 
have made to cross the Potomac — if they were as ready 



72 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

and eager to enter upon the endless and blessed realities 
of spiritual life as these soldiers are the unforeseen experi- 
ences of their coming campaign, how joyfully would be 
heard the summons to depart — how peacefully and happy 
the transition from an earthly to a heavenly state of being. 
But in this as in many other respects, " The children of 
this world are in their generation wiser than the children 
of light." It is not easy inwardly to realize, and practi- 
cally to feel, that " We are pilgrims and sojourners here, 
as all our fathers were," and " Heaven is our home." 
Yet duty, and the voice of God, call us to realize it, 
admonish us to be prepared to cross the river, at any 
time to tread the radiant shore from whose blissful abodes 
have come over to us words of such cheer and promise, 
truths of such priceless value, instructions and entreaty of 
such matchless wisdom and inexhaustible love as contained 
in the glorious Gospel of our ever blessed Lord. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. II. CUDWORTH. 

Camp Hooker, March 17, 1862. 
My Dear Parishioners : — Never since the war began 
has there been a more signal instance of the interposition 
of Divine Providence than in the arrival of the Monitor 
off Fortress Monroe, and the driving back of the Merri- 
mack to the place whence she came. The irreverent and 
unbelieving will say she happened to come, and the finger 
of God was no more visible in her opportune arrival than 
in the least noticeable events of the war. I think they 
are mistaken. I think she came just as she did as answer 
to the prayers of the saints. I think that the victories 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 73 

which have recently blessed our arms were vouchsafed to 
answer their prayers ; and if the saints will only keep 
praying earnestly, and believingly, God will continue to make 
our enemies flee before us. In this war we are not to 
look wholly or chiefly to artillery, cavalry, and infantry; 
to iron-clad ships, or casemated fortifications, but to the 
Lord God Almighty. He it was who drowned Pharaoh 
and his host in the Red Sea, and overthrew Amalek in 
battle. He it was brought Protestantism forth from its 
bloody baptism along the Rhine, to a foremost place 
among the religions of the earth. He also who allowed us 
to achieve the independence for whose preservation we 
are now contending ; and He will not allow a discontented, 
ambitious, domineering minority to wrench from us the 
dearest right we have inherited from our fathers, or can 
exercise ourselves, and make us bow the neck to political 
dictation, as at home their slaves submit to domestic ser- 
vitude. A T o, not if we pray fervently, and work faithfully. 
Now then, when purblind croakers of evil are predicting the 
annihilation of our commerce, the shelling of our seaboard 
cities, the flank movement of the rebel army through 
Pennsylvania into Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, 
the discomfiture of Burnside, the drawing of our forces 
into the South where fevers and pestilence will prove 
more fatal than sword and bullet, the prolongation of the 
war three, five, fifteen, twenty years — let us pray — let us 
pray that God would vindicate the supremacy of his rule 
over all the nations of the earth, and his control of bat- 
tlefields, however well contested, his bestowment of success, 
or decree of failure, to strategy however skilfully planned 
and carried out. 



74 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

I am shocked with this boastful arrogance which confi- 
dently affirms what it is going to do, without the reverent 
proviso, " If the Lord wills ; " and I am ashamed of those 
timid panic breeders, who cannot see a cloud arise but 
all, all is lost, and the most fearful catastrophes just at 
hand. How calmly and grandly stands the soul which 
prays, believes, and does its duty faithfully, letting God 
think and plan for it. How peaceful and blessed the re- 
pose of a perfect trust in the wisdom unfathomable, the 
power irresistible, and the vigilance unceasing of God the 
Omnipotent. O, come to the citadel of prayer ; enter the 
stronghold of supplication ; put on the panoply of devout 
entreaty ; and more than we can ask or even think of 
benefit, God will bestow. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

Camp Hooker, March 29, 1862. 
My Dear Parishioners : — When last I wrote it was 
with the fear that I might not be permitted to write 
again for some time. Everything seemed to betoken an 
advance of General Hooker's Division, and I knew when 
once started we should not stop till at least one and 
perhaps several bloody battles had been fought. But God 
has mercifully delayed the day of our departure. O, how 
much better than our fears are the will and ways of 
God in the discipline and government of our lives. What 
we have dreaded with the most dismal forebodings, what 
we have feared and shrunk from, not infrequently proves 
to be for our best good. Indeed, we are assured that all 
things shall work together for good, if we only love God. 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 75 

All our sufferings and disappointments will end in bless- 
ing. Could we but realize this, and put the same implicit 
trust, the same unhesitating confidence in God which chil- 
dren do in their parents, what a treasury of comfort, what 
an inexhaustible supply of quietness and peace would be 
unfolded to us. I pray God, my dear friends and parish- 
ioners, that you may be led unto Him in this spirit, and 
so may endure to the end sickness, bereavement and loss. 
Let love be perfect love, and all tormenting fears will be 
utterly cast out ; nothing earthly can distress the heart, or 
overwhelm the soul ; and God's peace will crown all life's 
experiences with calm and heavenly repose. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

Camp Winfield Scott, April 18, 1862. 
My Dear Parishioners : — I have written to you from 
Washington, now, as always, the centre of so much interest, 
from Georgetown, one of the oldest and formerly one of 
the busiest places in the country; from Budd's Ferry on 
the broad Potomac, unknown to fame, and heretofore of 
little account except as a crossing place into Virginia; 
from Fort Albany, which with other works of a similar 
character, saved our National Capital from conquest by 
the exultant regiments who had fought at Manassas ; and 
from Bladensburg, famous as a place of conflict between 
Americans and English during the last war. But more of 
interest attaches to the locality where I now am seated, 
than to all the others combined; for here, in 1781, before 
the United States became a nation, were encamped the 
regiments of our Revolutionary ancestors, and their French 



76 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

allies; and on the very ground where now are quartered 
the soldiers of the loyal North, the British laid down 
their arms, and the independence of the United States was 
practically established. The very house where Lafayette 
had his headquarters is within a few steps of my tent; 
and the site formerly occupied by his seven thousand 
troops is freshly consecrated by the presence among the 
forces of two batteries from Massachusetts. 

The First Regiment occupies an advanced position about 
a mile in front of General McClellan's headquarters, and 
only two from the strong earthworks which defend York- 
town. Between us and the enemy there are no forces ex- 
cept the pickets and outposts, so that if an infantry attack 
is made upon them, and they make such a resistance as 
their fortifications will enable them to, many of our brave 
men must be killed and wounded. The work of death is 
going on daily, and we are awakened every night by sorties 
from the rebel lines, and in silence and darkness our 
thousands have been mustered for conflict, but no general 
engagement has been brought on. It seems evident to me 
that our foes feel their losses, and are making desperate 
efforts to retrieve them, but if I can discern the signs of 
the times, their race is nearly run. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

The following is to Brother Bracllee : — 

Camp Winfield Scott, April 21, 1862.. 
Dear Brother Bradlee: — On my table lie three let- 
ters in your peculiar chirography, each telling of service 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 77 

in the Lord's vineyard, and most acceptable to me. I was 
told that your Fast Day discourse gave much satisfaction, 
and that your funeral services are touching and beautiful. 
Humanly speaking, the downfall of Yorktown is inevi- 
table. Parallels have been drawn, roads cut, cannon and 
mortars planted, and positions selected, so that three thou- 
sand six hundred shot and shell can be poured into the 
enemies' works every hour. Flesh and blood cannot stand 
this, of course. But I pray Yorktown may fall as fell 
Island Number 10, and the war be ended by panic rather 
than by slaughter. Our iron wall is nearly done, and soon 
it may be fire and steel. It is a comfort that God reigns. 

Cordially yours, 

W, H. CUDWORTH. 

The next by date is to his parish : — 

Camp Winfield Scott, April 26, 1862. 
My Dear Parishioners: — By the goodness of God I 
am permitted to send you another greeting from the front 
of General McClellan's grand armytof the Potomac now 
engaged in the siege of Yorktown. Since I wrote last, 
three of our regiment have been killed while making 
an assault upon the rebel outworks, and thirteen more or 
less seriously wounded, of whom I fear two more will die. 
I have visited several of the divisions composing our 
Union forces, and seen somewhat of the gigantic prepara- 
tions which have been made to subdue the Secession army 
on this peninsula ; and have been amazed to see how 
colossal they are. Never have I felt more deeply the 
weakness of the individual, or more thoroughly realized 



78 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

the irresistible power of the mass. Here are regiments, 
brigades, divisions, batteries, comprising tens of thousands 
of vigorous, stalwart men, with their arms, equipments, 
horses, servants, wagons, etc., scattered over miles of ter- 
ritory, in the woods and on the open field, ready and 
eager for the word which shall begin the work of death, 
for which they have been months in training. What is 
the individual indeed in such a mass ? What are in- 
dividual misfortunes, wounds and sufferings ; or what an 
individual death ? It might be thought it is nothing, and 
no account is taken of it; but not such is the fact. So 
perfect is the military system, that every particular of in- 
dividual experience and condition, down to the minutest 
detail of dress and deportment, is as carefully included, 
and as thoroughly attended to, as are the grand move- 
ments which turn the tide of battle, and decide the des- 
tiny of the day. The individual is never lost sight of, 
never disregarded. If he is wronged, provision is made 
for his redress. Sick or well, wounded or unharmed, on 
the march or at the bivouac, he is to be kept in sight. 
Military law provides that he must be clothed, fed, armed, 
trained, and otherwise looked after. And generally he is 
looked after, and consequently the United States have at 
this moment the best and most effective army in the 
world. Now let us, my dear parishioners, look after our 
individual words, and acts, and moods, as carefully, and 
we shall manage as successfully the arch foes of our 
peace and purity, and win crowns of everlasting rejoicing 
when life's battle is over. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 79 

On May day the young people of his society, 
in East Boston, gave an entertainment in the 
afternoon and evening for the purpose of raising 
funds to aid the Sunday-school mission. Then 
follow letters to his parish : 

Camp Winfield Scott, May 3, 1862. 

My Dear Parishioners: — The dullest eyes must begin 
now to see the bright side which is showing itself between 
loyalty and anarchy in our beloved land, and the tongue 
least used to fashion prayer must have ejaculated a hearty 
" Thank God ! " as tidings of victory, on river and sea, in 
city and country, have been borne to our ears electric and 
jubilant with a Nation's joy. More than once has my 
tongue said " Thank God ! " hearing of Donelson, Newburn, 
Roanoke, Pulaski, Shiloh, Xew Orleans and Macon ; but 
bv nothing has mv gratitude been so quickened and deep- 
ened as by the moral advances we have already made, 
and the moral promise we have given to the world that 
this shall be the land of the free, as it is the home of 
the brave. It is good to take munitions of war, prisoners, 
ships, forts and cities ; but better still to take a higher 
stand for justice, truth, and everlasting right. All material 
wealth, and temporal prosperity, all prayers and success 
must be founded on justice, truth, and right, or they will 
come to naught. So I have rejoiced that our far-sighted 
President issued his proposal of pecuniary aid to any 
State willing to rid itself of slavery, and that from Con- 
gress the voice was so firm and emphatic on this subject. 



80 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

I have rejoiced that our Central district was purified from 
this stain, that West Virginia has expressed its wish 
gradually to break the chains of centuries, that hundreds 
of the strongest opposers of emancipation throughout the 
Union are becoming its most earnest advocates, and that 
we are beginning to be understood abroad, at last, as 
fighting, not for a political abstraction, but for a principle 
on which, as the chief corner stone of our nation, all our 
rights, individual, State, and corporate, are based. I am 
proud, and glad and grateful to God, that I have seen 
this day, and though around me now the storm is raging, 
I know it cannot last, and will prove fruitful of blessing 
to our beloved country. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

Camp Beyond Williamsburg, May 10, 1862. 
My Dear Parishioners: — Since I last wrote, the most 
exciting events have transpired, through which, as yet, I 
have been called to pass. Yorktown, strongly fortified, and 
held by an immense force, where we expected to lose 
hundreds or thousands of our brave troops, has, as you 
well know, been evacuated, and in a pitched battle, the 
field chosen and prepared by the rebel generals, they have 
been conquered and driven back. I cannot bear to dwell 
upon the harrowing details of human suffering incident to 
such occasions, or I would voice facts which must make 
you value the homes, friends, and comforts by which you 
are surrounded, far more than any one does, or can, until 
deprived of them. Let me rather call your attention to 
the hand of God, a-s I have seen it working in our be- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 8 1 

half. When the Yorktown defences were built, a thick 
belt of woods was left all along their front by some strange 
military oversight — and almost at the outer edge of this, 
our forces began to dig their trenches. Had the woods 
been cut down, this would have been impossible. But as 
it was, ten thousand men worked there day after day, en- 
tirely screened from observation — getting only now and 
then a chance shot from the enemies' batteries — until our 
own works assumed such size, and were filled with such 
formidable munition, that resistance was useless, and none 
was attempted. The eyes of the engineers seem to have 
been blinded, and left us this quickly improved chance of 
driving the enemy from his stronghold without assault ; 
and so Yorktown was evacuated. Again, upon arriving 
near Williamsburg, it was found that the left and centre 
roads had been fortified in front and on both flanks, so 
as to make approach extremely hazardous, if not impossi- 
ble, but a road on the extreme right, which was a key 
to the others, had been left guarded only by a small 
earthwork. General McClellan took immediate advantage of 
it, and his troops are now beyond Williamsburg in pur- 
suit of a flying enemy. Our ability and force has doubt- 
less been underrated by the foe, but surely God has been 
in it all. The little Monitor was brought along just at 
the right time. Our forces were hastened along to save the 
army at Shiloh. Our finances are in good condition, and 
Foreign Powers are deciding not to take sides against 
us. God has heard and answered the prayers of His 
people, and I am fully convinced that he is about to give 
us peace and prosperity once more. Let us resolve that 
prayerfully and faithfully we will improve them, and in all 



82 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

the future, unto Him commit our ways, that He may di- 
rect our paths, and order all our steps in accordance with 

His will. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

Then follows a letter to friends in Boston : 

Camp near Williamsburg, May 14, 1862. 
My Dear Friends : — I avail myself of your invitation 
to write, to tell you and friends at the Festival how 
strongly and repeatedly the conviction has been forced 
upon me since the commencement of this war, that God 
is on our side, and that He has been more palpably 
present and active in the ordering of our affairs, in the 
correction of our mistakes, and the defeat of our foes, 
than the hand and power of man. With the liveliest satis- 
faction which I have felt, therefore, in the triumphs of our 
arms, have mingled a gratitude, a thanksgiving, and a sense 
of obligation to God, such as I never felt before ; and if 
my life is spared to return to my loved New England 
home and parish, I shall enter upon the duties of my 
calling with a fervor and enjoyment heightened and inten- 
sified by the experiences of a year in camp among armed 
men. Mingled with the festive joy of your annual gather. 
ingj I hope there will be a gratitude to the All-wise 
Creator, profound and universal, that He has been pleased 
to crown our efforts with such signal, speedy, and glorious 

success. 

Cordially yours, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 
Chaplain First Regiment Mass. Vol. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 83 

On the road to Richmond, May 20, 1862. 

My Dear Parishioners : — It was the good fortune of 
our division while on the march, yesterday, to pass St. 
Peter's Church, an Episcopal edifice where our beloved 
Washington was married. Most of the meeting-houses in 
this part of the country are miserable, dilapidated build- 
ings, partaking of the forlorn, poverty-stricken appearance 
seen wherever slavery has left its blight ; but St. Peter's 
is quite a respectable structure of brick, built over an hun- 
dred years ago, and about half as large as our church. 
It is in a sightly position, surrounded by lofty oak-trees 
over two hundred years old, and around it sleep the forms 
of those who once worshipped God within its venerable 
walls. I saw several headstones in its churchyard so old 
that inscription and date were entirely obliterated, and some 
that I could decipher extended back to 1736- 1740, etc. 
The inside is extremely simple ; uncarpeted, uncushioned, 
and furnished with the old-fashioned hard pine benches 
once so common. In front is a square tower fifty feet 
high perhaps, containing no doubt a bell, and with a 
carriage porch underneath the bell deck. Though not 
much of an antiquarian, I confess that I rode round and 
gazed into this ancient building with a feeling of reverence, 
thinking principally of that noble soul who here doubtless 
passed some of the happiest moments of his life. How 
potent the influence of a great heart ! Even bricks and wood 
become invested by it with a halo of constantly increasing 
glory. Thus the immortality which man inherits, he can 
bequeath not merely to those bearing his name, but to 
everything he has been connected with. O, let us strive 



84 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

to make our lives so sublime that the places which have 
known us shall be revered by those who come after. 
Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

The following is to Brother Bradlee : 

White Oak Swamp, May 3, 1862. 
Dear Brother Bradlee: — The rebels are not yet in 
Washington, neither are we ; but we are in a water trap, 
which may somewhat retard our advances, though it can- 
not prevent our final triumph. When the war is over, my 
dear brother, the Union restored, slavery abolished, or 
dying by degrees, and those of us who are to come back, 
return rich and strong in our experience of camp and 
army life, I am sure you will look back upon your East 
Boston labors with more satisfaction than now you seem 
able to feel. Let not a conscience morbidly sensitive, there- 
fore, cause you regrets as groundless as useless. That 
the Sunday-school and prayer-meeting have continued to 
flourish, has given me abundant reason to thank God, for 
without a good school, and a weekly meeting for prayer, 
I hold it impossible for any parish to keep the lamp of its 
collective piety trimmed, burning, and ready for the Master's 
coming. All piety to live again, must be aggressive, just 
as the sun, when it rises and puts darkness and cold to 
flight, or as medicine or surgery attack physical evil, and 
if possible, remove it. My only hope of future usefulness, 
should I return to East Boston, would be in beleaguering 
all the strongholds of iniquity, and throwing up entrench- 
ments against the outworks of sin, wherever they show 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 85 

themselves. This, to come from things future to things 
present, is exactly what our cautious young general is now 
doing before the rebel capital. He will make no imme- 
diate, unadvised, and risky attack; but as at Yorktown, 
make liberal use of shovel, spade, and pick — if need be bring 
up his whole siege train, and save as much life as pos- 
sible. We receive and send mails on Sunday, the same 

as other days. 

Sincerely yours, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

The next letter is to his parish, written on the 
same day : 

Poplar Hill, White Oak Swamp, May 31, 1862. 
My Dear People: — I had hoped while writing my last 
letter to you, that my next would be sent from the capi- 
tal of Virginia, but I am reminded of the old proverb, 
" Man proposes, God disposes." We had been favored 
with such a rapid succession of brilliant Union victories 
that undoubtedly our leaders and men had begun again to 
underrate the craft, power and desperation of the foe, and 
were in danger of repeating the disastrous experiences of 
Bull Run and Ball's Bluff. God mercifully averted this by 
allowing the forces of our favorite Massachusetts general 
to be so much reduced that the risk of a battle was out of 
the question, and only a masterly retreat was left, both to 
save most of his command, and by showing the whole coun- 
try our weakness, arouse again the legions of the patriotic 
North, to rush forward to the holding of what we had al- 
ready obtained, and the defense of what we had preserved. 



86 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

How my heart thrilled as I read of the promptitude 
with which our Governor's earnest call was responded to, 
and by those who shortly before had thought the war about 
over, and had begun to direct their attention and energy 
to the business prospects and demands a speedy peace 
was denoting. How it thrilled as I read of the thousands 
making ready to help us regain every inch of our loss ; 
and the thousands back of them, who, without conscription, 
would advance if necessary to the " deadly breach." Hav- 
ing been somewhat saddened and discouraged by the mis- 
taken leniency of our Government, and the intermeddling 
of politicians with the plans of our great military leaders 
in the field, it was truly a relief to find that the hearts 
of the people were all right ; that their hatred of seces- 
sion, under the guise of " State rights," was as strong as 
ever ; that their zeal to find and conquer the foes to the 
best government the earth ever saw, was not one whit 
abated. Truly the clouds of temporary disaster have proved 
big with blessing, and the darkness of a brief hour of de- 
feat will surely be followed by well-earned victories. Let 
us thank God with full and grateful hearts, and give our- 
selves to prayer and duty with renewed fervor, waiting in 
faith and patience till it shall please Him to cause this 
war to end and give us peace once more. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

Camp near Fair Oaks, June 7, 1862. 
My Dear People: — While you were engaged in the 
worship of God last Sunday, the men of our regiment 
were in constant expectation of an attack from the enemy. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 87 

The details of the battle you have all doubtless read. 
From early morning till late in the afternoon its fearful 
tide ebbed and flowed around our camp in White Oak 
Swamp, and half a dozen times we expected it would 
break through the thin belt of woods separating our 
brigade from the main body of the army ; but the roar 
of cannon and rattle of musketry receded slowly farther 
and farther, until towards night it ceased entirely, and we 
knew the battle of Fair Oaks was ended, and we, though 
ready, had not been needed. It was evident that a fierce 
struggle had been going on, and thinking we might be 
called at any time, our troops were kept in readiness, Mon- 
day and Tuesday, from three o'clock in the morning until 
nine at night. On Wednesday we took up our line of 
march towards Fair Oaks, arriving before sundown, and 
finding the battlefield still covered with the dead, though 
the soldiers had been engaged three days in burying them. 
They approached for this purpose even the picket stations 
of the foe, but the conflict had extended so far — through 
fields, woods, fallen timber and swamps — that the whole 
atmosphere was full of the stench of hundreds still un- 
reached. The next day while the regiment was absent on 
picket duty, I got together as many of those left behind 
as I could muster, and shouldering my shovel with the 
rest, went out to discharge the last sad office required of 
man for the dead. We found enemies and friends mixed 
up indiscriminately, and lying in every conceivable position. 
Some were nearly under water, some bedded in mud, some 
beneath logs and fallen trees, some beside a small brook, 
where, in the death struggle, they had crawled to assuage 
their thirst; but all so much decomposed that they could 






88 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

only be approached on the leeward side, and covered up 
as they lay. It was a sad and awful task, but there 
was only time for work, none for regret and sorrow. So 
I plied my shovel with the rest till my hands were blis- 
tered and my limbs ached with weariness. Part of the 
time we stood in water, and part had to cut through 
roots and turf to get at any soil, and only knew by the 
dress on which side the dead had fought. Alas ! such is 
war. Having, my dear people, been with you during many 
a season of bereavement, and stood beside the precious 
forms of those whom you consigned to the tomb with all 
the solemnities of Christian burial, I could not help shud- 
dering at the contrast. God grant that few more such 
scenes may need our attention. 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. Cudworth. 



Camp near Fair Oaks, June 21, 1862. 
My Dear People: — The time seems rapidly approach- 
ing when the great principles of loyalty, liberty and law, 
are to have their death grapple. As our Union forces and 
works increase and approach completion, the enemy mani- 
fests more and more uneasiness. They open upon our 
camps with artillery, make attacks upon our pickets or 
reconnoisances in force, and apparently unwilling to pre- 
cipitate a battle, yet seem eager to annoy us all they can. 
Thus far, however, their efforts have only increased our 
vigilance. Not a rebel picket steps across his line but he 
is greeted with the crack of a Union rifle ; not a rebel 
cannon is discharged, day or night, but all eyes and ears 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 89 

are instantaneously opened, and all hands grasp the trusty 
weapons which are to decide who will rule this country ; 
and when the warning bugle note is heard calling upon all 
to fall in and march forth, in less than ten minutes one will- 
see five, ten, fifteen thousand stalwart men filing rapidly 
out of the woods, over the roads, and across the fields, 
with glittering muskets, and firm, determined step, speaking 
victory or death. Every day, last week, a demonstration 
was made against our lines, and immediately repelled. 
The most serious one occurred on Saturday. It was a hot, 
dusty, disagreeable day, making any exertion laborious, but 
no sooner were the warning picket guns discharged, than 
the whole country seemed alive with men, and in twenty 
minutes after the firing commenced, every rebel gun was 
silenced, and every one of the enemy driven back. Then 
rode back the generals from the front — Heintzleman, 
Kearny, Hooker, Meagher and others, cheered as they 
passed along the lines, as only soldiers can cheer. Ah ! 
thought I, if the soldiers of the Cross were only as self- 
sacrificing and enthusiastic as that ! If they only loved and 
trusted their great Captain as these men do their leaders! 
If they would go forth on picket in the highways, or de- 
ploy as skirmishers among the underbrush of evil and suf- 
fering abounding in all communities, fighting now and then 
a great battle against the principalities of sin, the powers 
of iniquity, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and 
of spiritual wickedness in high places, how truly could all 
Christendom shout in unison with the army of freedom, 
Glory, Hallelujah ! 

Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 



90 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

The following is to Mr. Bradlee: 



i & 



Camp near Fair Oaks, Jtme 23, 1862. 

Rev, Brother Bradlee: — I was glad again to hear 
from you, and to be assured how much intere.it our Sun- 
day-school anniversary awoke in Boston. Would that all 
our churches were as alive to the importance of labor in 
this direction as are the people of East Boston. 

Brother A. B. Fuller is located near me, and I see him 
nearly every day. We have been expecting a battle all 
day, but it has not occurred. Desperate attempts are made 
to break our lines, but as yet are unsuccessful. 

Very cordially, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

We quote from a newspaper notice of the anni- 
versary of his Sunday-school: 

This school is said to be the most numerously attended 
of any belonging to the denomination in New England, 
if not in the" country. It was organized by the Rev. W. 
H. Cudworth, who is at present in the field serving as 
chaplain of the Massachusetts First Regiment. A year ago 
Mr. Cudworth was present, having been sent from his 
regiment with despatches to the Governor, and he gave 
the school some interesting accounts of the Battle of 
Bull Run, and the skirmishes which preceded it. Since 
then, he has sent a letter almost every Sunday, describing 
the incidents of camp life, battles, etc., thus keeping 
up a lively interest between himself and his pupils. The 



REV. WARREN' H. CUDWORTH. 9 1 

school at present numbers six hundred and fourteen pu- 
pils and teachers. The church in which the anniversary 
was celebrated presented a fine appearance, having been 
tastefully ornamented with flowers in all its prominent 
points of observation ; and it was crowded with the pupils 
and spectators to its utmost capacity. The services were 
opened by Rev. Mr. Bradlee, who occupies Mr. Cudworth's 
place during his absence, after which there were various 
exercises by the pupils under the superintendence of Ben- 
jamin Pond, Esq. Twenty Bibles were given to as many 
scholars who had brought in the greatest number of pu- 
pils during the year, or had not been absent at all. Inter- 
esting remarks were made by Messrs. Kneeland, Studley, 
James, and Metcalf. The proceedings were pleasing and 
instructive throughout and reflected great credit upon all 
who took part in them. 

From another notice we learned — 

Mr. Cudworth, as pastor of the society, though absent, 
has still given tone to its proceedings, by writing letters 
to it, and to the Sunday-school, which have been read to 
each nearly every Sabbath. His people learning, however, 
from his letters, that during the last four months his 
labors as a chaplain had not been required by the regi- 
ment, on account of the exigencies of war, several of 
them have from time to time written to him requesting 
him to resign his commission and return home. In reply 
to these numerous requests he sent a letter in which he 
stated that after the fall of Richmond, and the end of the 



92 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

summer campaign, if he could, with honor to himself, re- 
turn, he would do so about the first of September. Yester- 
day forenoon the society, by an almost unanimous vote, 
instructed the chairman of their standing committee to 
write to him to return to the society as early as possible. 
In coming to this decision they have had in view only one 
object, viz., the doing of good. If their pastor's labors as 
a Christian minister are not required at the seat of war, 
they know from years of previous experience that they can 
be rendered very useful at home. Not only has he a full 
congregation of hearers, but a Sunday-school composed of 
over six hundred pupils and teachers, who all love and 
honor him and are anxious that he should resume his 
labors among them. It was evident, therefore, to his peo- 
ple, that he could do more good here than in the field, 
and for this reason alone they voted for him to return at 
his earliest convenience. Mr. Bradlee himself, who now 
ministers in his place, before he proposed the vote of re- 
call, frankly stated that he was as anxious as any one 
could be for his return. Although he loved the people, 
and had been treated by them in the most kindly spirit, 
yet he felt that his feeble health would not permit him to 
discharge all the duties that were required of a pastor, 
therefore he, as well as the congregation, was interested 
in the speedy return of Mr. Cudworth. It must be very 
gratifying to Mr. Cudworth when he learns that, notwith- 
standing his well-known views of the cause of the war, 
not a single voice was raised against his recall. We be- 
lieve he is the most popular minister of the denomin- 
ation in New England, because the most disinterested, and 
the most energetic in the cause he has at heart. The 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 



93 



cause first, himself last, has been his rule of action during 
his connection with the society in East Boston. 

The following letters are to Mr. Bradlee : 

Camp near Alexandria, Sept. n, 1862. 
Dear Bradlee: — I am glad to hear that church ser- 
vices have again been entered upon at East Boston, and 
shall pray for you constantly, that God will bless the 
labors you have resumed among my people there. One of 
those you missed on Sunday — Brother Lewis G. Smith — 
was with me, and attended preaching, the Sacrament of 
the Lord's Supper, and evening prayer-meeting. The Lord 
was with us, and cheered all our hearts. I hear that Rev. 
Mr. YVaterston was very much liked by our people. You 
have not only done faithfully yourself, but procured ex- 
changes which have always given satisfaction. I hope the 
Sunday-school will continue as it has commenced, in good 

working order. 

Cordially yours, 

w. h. cudworth. 

Camp at Fairfax, Railroad Station, 
Nov. 9, 1862. 

Brother Bradlee: — I was rejoiced to hear that your 
last Sunday's Communion Service was very much enjoyed 
by many. Christ himself seemed to be in your midst to 
bless you. 

Your snowstorm reached Virginia, and I pitched my 
tent upon its white carpet two inches thick. Our men 
have nothing but shelter tents, and most of them but one 



94 REV - WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

blanket, so that the experience of one of our New Eng- 
land snowstorms has proved pretty trying. But we all do 
our best to bear it, and God helps us, and for Liberty's 
sake, we suffer willingly. 



As Christ died to make men holy, 
"We will die to make them free. 



The entire Army of the Potomac is on the move now. 

They are building bridges and a railroad at present, and 

will soon attack the fortifications of Lee in the rear of 

Fredericksburg. We are to have an active winter campaign. 

God bless the work till every yoke be broken, and all the 

oppressed go free. 

Cordially yours, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

Camp near Falmouth, Dec. 3, 1862. 
Rev. Brother Bradlee : — Your prayer that I might 
have a pleasant Thanksgiving was answered in full. We 
had a fine regimental service in the morning, and a nice 
New England dinner, spread in the area of a rebel forti- 
fication. Since then we have marched nearly forty miles, 
and are now in the front again, within two miles of the 
rebel lines. It is not proposed to do anything at present, 
I understand, but get up the siege guns which drove the 
rebels out of Yorktown, and will of course drive them be- 
yond Fredericksburg. This may take a month, perhaps 
more. Meantime winter quarters are not thought of. My 
own feeling is that not much will be done before January 
i, 1863, when God, in the shape of a righteous decree, will 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 95 

become the Major-General of our aimy, and woe betide 
those who rebelliously press upon " The thick bosses of 
His impenetrable buckler." The army is universally anxious 
to end the war, and will welcome an onward movement, how- 
ever hazardous. I never knew men to march better than 

during the last few days. 

Cordially yours, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

Camp near Falmouth, Dec. 19, 1862. 
Dear Bradlee : — Your note received to-day found me 
nearly prostrated with a severe cold and neuralgic pains 
contracted by lying in the open air on frozen ground, or 
in the icy mud. But as these are not so bad as a minnie 
ball through my brain, or a bayonet through my heart, I 
shall not surrender to sickness, but call up all my reserves 
for a grand rally after my lost health, spirits, and appe- 
tite. Our future movements in this quarter are undecided 
as yet. We wait probably till something occurs elsewhere. 
Meanwhile the Day of Doom comes on apace. God speed 
it, and the great work it heralds to dusky millions of His 

great human family. 

Most cordially yours, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

The following is a letter to the dear mother, 
the only parent we either of us recollect : 

Camp near Falmouth, Jan. 6, 1863. 
My Dear Mother: — Your letter of December 26 found 
me recovering rapidly from the cold I caught during the 
exposure of the battle of Fredericksburg. If we were liv- 



96 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

ing in any sort of shape, I should be comparatively com- 
fortable now, but being sixty miles from any market, we 
get hardly any thing but army rations, and of these a 
poor supply. I live principally on bread, molasses and 
water, and long to get hold of some nice fruit and cake. 
I can understand your wonder how one feels looking on 
and seeing men with limbs amputated or ghastly wounds 
dressed. I would not have believed two years ago that I 
ever could endure it. But with the time of trial comes 
also the necessary preparation for it. The promise is 
literally fulfilled, "As thy day, so shall thy strength be." 
Men who are wounded also seem to be supported by 
strength from On High. I have seen many of them ter- 
ribly injured, and many in a dying state, but very few 
complained, or groaned, or expressed any wish but that 
they might see their friends before they died. I think 
that the sufferings and deprivations of our soldiers are 
more deeply felt by their friends at home than by them- 
selves. It is one of a soldier's privileges to grumble, and 
after having indulged in it he feels and does better. It 
seems to be a merciful dispensation of Divine Providence 
that gradually their minds shall be brought down to a 
level with the lot to which they are subjected, and if, 
after marching, fighting, and faring roughly, they can get 
what they call a " soft job," like doing garrison duty, or 
standing guard in some town, they are perfectly happy. 
Very few of them are so at home after leaving the regi- 
ment, on account of sickness or wounds ; and nine out of 
ten come back. We have moved camp twice since I last 
wrote, and are now in a wild and magnificent forest but 
two miles from the Rappahannock, and close enough to the 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 97 

rebels to prevent their doing anything should they feel so 

inclined. We had a grand review yesterday by General 

Burnside. About twenty thousand troops took part in it, 

and made a very imposing display. With love to all as 

usual. 

Your affectionate son, 

Warren. 

The next letters are to Mr. Bradlee : 

Camp near Falmouth, Jan. 10, 1863. 

Dear Brother Bradlee: — I was reminded of an anec- 
dote of wicked Tom Sheridan by the commencement of 
your letter of the fifth ultimo, which has just arrived. 
His father told Tom he had better take a wife. " Very 
well," says Tom ; " whose wife shall I take ? " So you 

write that on Sunday evening you gave Mr. a wife, 

and also a wife to .Mr. . Now the question arises, 

whose wives did you give them ? 

You preached well, they say, Sunday, January 4, and 
the full congregation were edified by your discourse. I am 
delighted with Brother Metcalf's success in the Sunday- 
.school. May God strengthen and encourage him according 
to his needs. Have you read Doctor Putnam's Thanks- 
giving discourse on slavery? Thank God, the leaven is 
working. It was a glorious utterance. The pro-slavery men 
of the army mutter a little, but Butler's noble acknowl- 
edgment of radical change in opinion causes them to be- 
come silent. Madam Rumor says the rebels are evacuating 
Fredericksburg, but she is not always a truth-teller, you 
know. 

I have been thinking of my experience here- so plastic 



98 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

is our wonderful human nature, so benignant the compen- 
sations God bestows upon those in trial. You cannot con- 
ceive what a blessing chloroform is in the army. It is 
universally administered, and as yet, I have not heard of 
a death resulting from its influence. I have seen a man 
with his leg off to the body, singing " The Morning Light 
is breaking" — "We're going Home to die no more," etc. 
at the highest pitch of his voice, and looking as happy as 
an angel ; all through the power of this blessed anaesthetic. 

Cordially yours, 

W. H. Cu^WORTH. 

Camp near Falmouth, March 1, 1863. 

My Dear Bradlee : — I was much pleased to learn 
of the calls you had received from members of my 
parish at your pleasant home in Roxbury. I have always 
found my people delightfully social, overflowing with good 
feeling and demonstrative in its manifestation. I suppose 
the reason you feel so old at times, notwithstanding your 
youth, is because as Solomon saith, " This perishable body 
presseth down the soul that museth upon many things." 
Good health is the willing man's best capital, whatever his 
age or wealth. We are still waiting for the mud to dry 
up. Active operations are commenced in part, however. 
We have about one hundred thousand men — the foe eighty 
thousand, with entrenched positions. The men have great 
confidence in General Hooker, for he leads them, and is 
sure to be found where the fight is strongest, and the 
danger greatest. 

My health is now good, thank God, and I hope by His 
grace to go through the exposures of the coming cam- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 99 

paign without sickness. I hope you are still well and 
strong, and may long so continue. 

Cordially yours, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

The following is another letter from the dear 
brother to our mother : 

Camp near Falmouth, March 17, 1863. 

My Dear Mother: — Our weather is still very cold, 
and nearly every day we have snow squalls or thunder 
storms. Sunday night it came down with terrific power. 
The hail stones were larger than peas. But at its height 
we celebrated the Holy Communion in my tent, and eight 
soldiers came out to participate in it, with the thunder for 
our organ, and the howling winds and rattling rain our 
choir. 

I am now enjoying very much the good things which 
my society has recently forwarded to me. You must never 
give way to anxiety concerning me, dear mother, because 
you may not get letters regularly, for when we are on the 
march I cannot write, and frequently in camp my time is 
so fully occupied that it is impossible. I am glad to hear 
of the revivals in progress. The nation is guilty before 
God, and religious people should do their utmost to bring 
it to a sense of its wrong doing. 

Those books you sent have been received, read, re-read, 
and read again. The soldiers were deeply interested 
in them, and they have done much good. I went up to 
Washington last Wednesday with the money which the 
men who had just been paid off wished to send home to 



IOO REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

their families. I had seventeen thousand dollars in Uncle 
Sam's greenbacks — the largest sum I ever carried about 
me. Thanks be to God, I did not lose a dollar of it, 
and it has gone in the shape of a draft to Massachusetts. 
With love to all as usual, believe me ever 

Your affectionate son, 

Warren. 

A current publication of this date says : 

"The Rev. W. H. Cudworth, chaplain of the 
Massachusetts First Regiment, sends a letter to 
his society in East Boston every Sunday. The 
following sketch of a military sermon by him is 
a model of theory reduced to practice :" 

Bank of the Potomac, Near 
doncaster, md. 
My Dear Friends and Parishioners : — Perhaps you 
would like to know what sort of sermons I preach to the 
regiment, so I forward the following as a specimen : — 
Text: — 1st. Timothy, v. 22. Keep thyself pure. — All must 
have observed that things are not kept clean in this 
world without an effort. Bright as a soldier may make 
his gun, one day's exposure to air and rain will tarnish 
it ; clean as he may make clothing and person, a few 
hours' march in mud or dust will soil them again ; faultless 
as the morning finds him, after the work of washing and 
brushing is over, the evening shows as much need of 
soap and brush as ever. The best-made equipments lose 
at last their lustre ; the most polished weapons contract 



REV, WARREN H. CUDWORTH. IOI 

stain and rust. So, in civil life, houses must be often 
swept, windows often washed, and even-thing worn or used 
by man, often purified. It is with the mind and its facul- 
ties, the soul and its emotions, the heart and its affec- 
tions, the spirit and its aspirations, as it is with the body and 
its surroundings ; and the command, Keep thyself pure, in- 
cludes them all. No doubt heart, mind, soul and spirit 
are apt to become tainted and corrupt through the influ- 
ence of evil around them. If forewarned we are forearmed ; 
it is sufficient to state this to put every reasonable being 
on his guard, and induce the inquiry, " What can we 
do to keep pure ? " — as well as systematic effort to the 
same end. Observe, before that inquiry is answered, 
" Keep thyself pitre" and not " make thyself pure." It were 
indeed a hopeless task to make ourselves pure ; for this 
nothing but the grace of God can do. But after we have 
been cleansed by the washing of regeneration and the re- 
newal of the " Holy Ghost," we can " Keep ourselves pure" 
if so inclined. For instance, all that is required to keep 
the face and hands pure after the slumbers of the night, 
or the heat and labors of the day, is a little soap and 
water. Now water everywhere abounds, in rivers and 
streams, in springs and the ocean, so that an abundant 
supply answers to the demand " Keep thyself pure" and 
whoever is found with person or clothing habitually soiled 
must be sloven or sluggard. It is contact with water 
which purifies things material, and so it is contact which 
purifies heart, mind, soul and spirit. And thus I answer 
the inquiry, " How shall I keep my heart pure ? " By 
avoiding contact with hearts that are in pure, and allowing 
contact with those only which are pure. Associations with 



102 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

thieves, gamblers, drunkards, the profane, and " lewd fel- 
lows of the baser sort," is sure to develop similarity of 
taste and nature, because " Evil communications corrupt 
good manners," and association with the noble and gifted 
produces generally an opposite effect, because good com- 
munications beget good manners. So with mind. If it 
is brought into contact with trashy novelettes, the records 
of races, the bulletins of fashion, the satire of scoffers 
only, it must grow hourly more impure. But if it com- 
mune with the best minds earth has produced, meditates 
upon their highest thoughts, and drinks in the inspiration 
of their wisdom, it will be kept pure. So with the soul, 
and so, in conclusion, with the spirit. The most ample 
provision has been made to keep the spirit pure, by in- 
citing it to contact with the most exalted of earthly spirits, 
prophets, sages, apostles, martyrs, and saints, and allowing 
it also the sublime privilege of communion with God. 
Thus of man nothing is required to the attainment of 
which he is . not abundantly supplied with the means. By 
contact or communion with the best hearts, minds, souls, 
spirits, earth has produced, and by fellowship with God 
through the ever living, ever open way, he can keep 
heart, soul, and spirit pure as easily as by water he can 
remove impurities from person or apparel. Keep thyself 
pure. Your affectionate pastor, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

The following is one of the home letters : 

Camp near Falmouth, April 5, 1863. 
My Dear Sister: — We are still having most unseason- 
able weather. Last night about six inches of snow fell 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 103 

during a northeast storm, and this morning it was as cold 
as during any day in winter. The wind was so furious 
as to tear up by the roots several large trees in our camp, 
but they did not fall on our tents. I can say " amen " 
to your dread of any more fighting, for this regiment at 
least. They have done more than their share, and ought 
to be permitted now to fall back, giving room for new- 
troops, who have never been in a battle, and are all 
eagerness for the fray. 

Providence has its plan regarding your life, and to that 
you will be compelled to submit, whether it make or mar 
your happiness. So with us all. God knows best. The 
only wise and safe life is that hidden with Christ in Him. 
" Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word 
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." I cannot in 
words convey to you any idea of the power and beauty 
with which this truth has been brought home to me of 
late. "They were spirit, they were life." When a man 
feels about his soul the everlasting arms, he is not likely to 
heed the carpings of those who say he is cherishing a delusion. 
Your affectionate brother, 

Warren. 

P. S. I sent to you the other day a copy of Adju- 
tant General Schouler's Report for 1863. It contains a 
long and highly commendatory notice of the 1st Regiment 
which I thought you might like to read. 

The next is to Brother Bradlee : 

Camp near Falmouth, April 24, 1863. 
Dear Bradlee: — So far as solid roads and sunny 
skies are concerned we are now about ready to advance 



104 REV - WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

upon the enemy. President Lincoln and several gentlemen 
high in office, have been here over a week reviewing and 
inspecting the army, as well as visiting the various camps. 
We have had forty thousand troops in line recently. 
They were in splendid condition and looked as though 
nothing could stand before them. The last rumor is that 
General Hooker's programme is to be entirely changed, 
and we may not move again before autumn. God rules, is 
my consolation, and he will rule out slavery before he 
will rule in peace. 

Should he give us Vicksburg and the Mississippi, the 
end cannot be far. 

Fraternally and cordially, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

Then follows one to the dear mother: 

Camp near Falmouth, May 9, 1863. 
My Dear Mother: — Your letter of April 30 reached 
me after my return from Chancellorsville, where our army 
fought a long and bloody battle with the enemy. It be- 
gan as early as Wednesday morning, April 29, and con- 
tinued, extending along a distance of fifteen miles, with 
various interruptions of skirmishing, flank movements, ad- 
vances, assaults, entrenching, etc., etc., till Wednesday, 
May 6. During this week of fighting we lost heavily, but 
the rebels more, and, on the whole, though we were com- 
pelled to fall back, it is generally considered that the ad- 
vantage is on our side. The rebel loss is undoubtedly all 
of twelve thousand men, and some rate it as high as 
twenty thousand. Not one of these men can be replaced, 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 105 

for the South has been searched to obtain them, while 
of the eight or ten thousand lost on our side, we can re- 
place them by one hundred thousand if necessary. Our 
own regiment lost heavily, for the corps to which it be- 
longed, containing only fifteen thousand men, received a 
charge of twenty-six thousand rebels, and drove them back. 
We number ninety-one less than we did before the bat- 
tle, most of our men being wounded or captured, as 
they obstinately refused to give way before the rebel ad- 
vance. I spent most of the time in and around our hos- 
pital, doing what I could for the wounded or dying, and 
burying the dead. Three times we were driven out of the 
hospital by rebel shells, and two wounded men were killed 
as they lay there. But God mercifully kept me from all 
harm, and I am to-day a monument of his fatherly good- 
ness and preserving care. We shall advance again soon, 
I suppose, and the fighting will be more desperate than 
ever. Do not omit your prayers for us, at home, that we 
may obtain final and complete victory. You certainly take 
a sensible view of my coming home for a few days or even a 
week, especially while the regiment is passing through such 
terrible scenes as those of last week. I want to be with 
them, to share their joy or comfort, and soothe their sor- 
row. I am more than ever convinced that God is on 
our side, and fighting our battles for us, and though for a 
time he may seem to forsake, yet with great mercies will 
he gather us. The nation needs the discipline of temporary 
failure, and we must all take our share of this salutary pun- 
ishment. 

Your affectionate 

Warren. 



106 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Then he finds time amid constant changes to 
write a few lines to Brother Bradlee : 

Bivouac near Gum Spring, June 22, 1863. 
My Dear Friend and Brother : — We have skir- 
mishes or fights with the enemy nearly every day. As yet 
the Third Corps, to which we belong, is held in reserve, 
but should there be any great battle, we shall take part. 
Guerillas surround us in the woods now continually. Eight 
were captured yesterday. "In God is our trust." 

Cordially yours, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

Truly did this faithful worker know in whom 
was his " trust," in going for the mail matter for 
the regiment, as he often did, with one companion, 
and without a weapon, for he would not use one 
in his place as chaplain. The same date as the 
last shows a letter to the dear mother : 

Bivouac at Gum Spring, June 22, 1863. 
My Dear Mother : — We arrived here on Saturday 
night, leaving Falmouth a week ago last Thursday, and 
have marched over a hundred miles, sometimes all night, 
till, having overtaken the enemy, we are watching him, 
playing off and on, endeavoring to distract his attention, 
divide his forces, and, should we find a favorable oppor- 
tunity, attack him at some weak point. It is impossi- 
ble to foresee where we next may go, but in my opinion, 
neither Lee nor Hooker intend to risk a general engage- 
ment if it can be avoided, but will try by moving about 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 107 

to out-general each other. Our regiment is encamped in 

a magnificent oak grove, and the weather being fine we 

enjoy our position very much. The men are recovering 

from their recent fatiguing marches, and all ready to start 

again. My health was never better. For several nights I 

have slept in the open air in a pouring rain ; but in the 

morning, after shaking myself, have come out as good as 

new. I am sorry to know that 's old age has been so 

darkened by misfortune and poverty, and did I agree with 

you, that it would prove any consolation to her, I would 

write her a letter and enclose money; but I think it would 

prove otherwise, so as soon as I get where it can be 

safely done, I will send you twenty dollars, and you can 

forward it in your own name. Any time that you want 

money for yourself or any one else, write me and it shall 

be sent. 

Your affectionate son, 

Warren. 

It will be recollected that the regiment was 
detached from the Army of the Potomac in Aug- 
ust, 1863, and sent to Governor's Island, N. Y. 
Harbor, to aid, if necessary, in enforcing the 
Conscription Act. 

Governor's Island, N. Y. Harbor, 

August 11, 1863. 

My Dear Mother: — We left Warrenton a week ago 

last Thursday night, and arriving in New York the next 

Sunday morning, were immediately ordered to occupy this 

Island. The regiment has come to New York to enforce 



lo8 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

the draft, and may have some street fighting, when the 
men drafted are called for, but I do not fear anything like 
a great riot. Government is too strong, and with the ma- 
jority of the people, the war is too much a war of prin- 
ciple. There are two strong forts on the Island, one of 
them mounting eighty-four large guns, and the other about 
thirty. Quite a number of people also reside here, and 
thus far they have been very pleasant and hospitable. We 
shall stay here until the draft troubles are over, which 
will be, I hope, about the middle of October. If the regi- 
ment is allowed to visit Boston, I shall, God willing, come 
with them; but if the men are compelled to stay here, I 
feel it my duty to remain with them. I am still very 
well, thanks be to God, and shall try to keep so. 

Your affectionate son, 

Warren. 

The next letter is to Brother Bradlee : 

Governor's Island* N. Y. Harbor, 
August 12, 1863. 
My Dear Bradlee : — I was glad to hear that the Sun- 
day-school Anniversary passed off so pleasantly, and greatly 
obliged for your generous bestowment. It was indeed sin- 
gular that you should have been drafted. I agree with 
you, that all clergymen should be exempt ; that the battle- 
field is no place for a minister of the Gospel, and that 
his only right there is to succor the distressed, pray with 
the dying, and assist in any way to save the precious 
lives endangered for their country's good. I have no sym- 
pathy whatever with fighting chaplains, and think that 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 109 

they prostitute their office by so doing. So I hold that no 
clergyman should enter the service except as a chaplain, 
and then remain strictly a non-combatant. Our regiment 
will remain here until October, when, unless there is mili- 
tary reason for a longer , stay, we shall proceed to the 

front again. 

Cordially yours, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

While there he preached in September at the 
rooms of the New England Soldier's Relief As- 
sociation. 

Riker's Island, Sept 24, 1863. 

Rev. Brother Bradlee: — I hope that the church has 
opened full after the vacation and that all parochial af- 
fairs will show unusual vitality and interest, ayd, above 
all, that an increasing gratitude to God for our Union 
success, and loyalty to the government which has done, 
and is doing so much, will distinguish both minister and 
people. It is rumored that we soon leave this place, per- 
haps by the first of October. We had a charming day here 
on Sunday, and I preached to quite a gathering of ladies, 
officers and soldiers on the green sward. My health was 
never better, and I hope you have quite recovered from 
your last indisposition. 

May the Lord be with you. Amen. 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

Camp at Cedar Run, Xear Catlett's Sta. 
O. & A. R. R. Oct. 30, 1863. 
Dear Brother Bradlee: — Your favor from Roxbury, 
of October 26, found me stationed as above, in good health 



110 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

and comparative content. We still await the reconstruc- 
tion of the railroad destroyed by our retiring foe, when we 
shall doubtless again take up our line of march towards 
Culpepper and Gordonsville. Our winter quarters will be 
much nearer Richmond than we are at present, I think, 
although the defenders of that city will resist strongly 
our advances, and sustain, perhaps, a severe and protracted 
siege. I am glad to know, from your regular Sunday 
report, " Good number out ; " that the interest of my peo- 
ple in Sabbath worship is sustained as usual. May it 
continue unabated to the end. May God strengthen and 
comfort of them those whom he is now trying by ill health 
or bereavement. Should you see, remember me most 
kindly and warmly to them. The day of the Lord and 
the triumph of our God in the downfall of human chattel- 
ism have 'come like a thief in the night. Glory in the 
highest ! Glory ! ! It would astonish the sleepy and con- 
servative wiselings of old Boston, could they hear the talk 
of Washingtonian, Maryland and even Virginia loyalists, 
about bondmen holders. They must awake, arouse, be up 
and doing, or the car of progress will leave them far behind. 
— For God the Father everlasting, and man the brother 

universal. 

Yours cordially, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

And now follows a letter to the dear mother": 

Camp at Brandy Station, Nov. 17, 1863. 
My Dear Mother: — Your letter of November 8 has 
arrived, and found me well, excepting that I have a severe 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. Ill 

cold, and find it next to impossible to get anything to eat. 
We have been visited by a furious thunder storm since I 
wrote last, and the roads are in very bad condition. But 
as the rainy season has not yet set in, and will not be- 
fore the middle or last of December, this will not prevent 
our moving forward, ■ and trying to deal another blow at 
the enemy before going into winter quarters. The railroad 
has been repaired, and all the bridges rebuilt as far as Cul- 
pepper Court House, and the prospect is that we may move 
on the last of this week. The regiment has again been 
paid off and I have some thirteen thousand dollars in my 
tent to be carried to Washington as soon as I shall be 
allowed a pass. There is nothing to be bought here, and 
in consequence, we are losing the flesh we gained at New 
York, but God will care for us. 

Your affectionate son, 

Warren. 

Then follows the proof that he knew in whom 
he trusted: 

Camp at Brandy Station, Dec. 30, 1863. 
My Dear Parishioners: — The Lord willed it so that 
I received the two large boxes of good things to eat, 
drink, and wear contributed by the Union Circle, and 
forty-one of your number, on Christmas-day. They were a 
munificent and most acceptable Christmas present, for which 
I return my most sincere and heartfelt thanks. On Christ- 
mas eve, while thinking of the four hundred pairs of 
bright eyes that would sparkle and glow in our church, 
and the more than four hundred pairs of little stockings 



112 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

that would be crammed to overflowing by loving hands be- 
fore Christmas morn, I asked the surgeon, who is my 
tent chum, if we had not better hang up ours in our sod 
and barrel crowned fireplace ? He thought it doubtful if 
Saint Nicholas would have time to visit the army, so we 
turned in as usual, with them on. When the morning came, 
bright and glorious, we found that he had indeed visited 
the army, bringing thousands of well-filled boxes to the 
various corps, and leaving at our tent the two whose un- 
packing, examination, and rearrangement in the tent, oc- 
cupied the entire day. Nothing in either of the boxes 
was broken or injured ; neither was there anything super- 
fluous, or which cannot be made of use and benefit. Even 
the boards of the boxes have been carefully laid aside, to 
make the floor of our tent, the nails saved to enter into 
the composition of a couple %f bunks, and the iron hoop- 
ing appropriated to form the arch of a new fireplace of 
stone and Virginia mud about to be set up. Thus it has 
happened that your untiring generosity, kind remembrance 
and friendly interest in the welfare of your long-absent 
pastor, have accomplished more for his comfort and hap- 
piness than any of you had foreseen ; even the boards, 
nails and hooping necessary to carry and secure your gifts, 
proving of value and account. So it is that our good and 
worthy deeds, our friendly words, our kind and generous 
feelings, -reach farther, spread wider, and last longer in 
their power to aid and bless than we can imagine. All 
the blood shed, the pains endured, the sacrifices made, the 
tears dropped, the heroic words spoken, the patriotic ef- 
forts put forth during this war, have in view the salvation 
of this country. But they will achieve much more than 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 113 

this. They will cheer the down-trodden and oppressed 
everywhere. They will lift heavy burdens from millions of 
aching hearts, which had almost forgotten to hope. They 
will trace upon the walls of proud and cruel despotisms 
the fiery prophecy of doom — "Thou art weighed in the 
balance and found wanting." They will lead to the recog- 
nition and acknowledgment of the Bible revelation that 
" God has made of one blood all the nations that dwell 
upon the face of the earth " — that He, therefore, is the 
Father universal, and they are all brothers, free and equal. 
They will prepare the way for " His second coining, be- 
fore whom every knee shall bow, and every tongue con- 
fess him to be Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 
Gratefully and affectionately your pastor and friend, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

The next is a letter to " Brother Bradlee : " 

Camp at Brandy Station, Jan. 8, 1864. 
My Dear Bradlee : — I was happy to know of the tes- 
timonial which my parish proposes to present you of 
their affection and good will. I heartily agree with your 
praise of them, and during my ministry, have found them 
just so serious, kind, forbearing, and good-natured. Other 
parishes may be equally so, but I would not exchange 
mine for any other. I see no reason to anticipate the dis- 
charge or return of the First Regiment before the expiration 
of its term of service. May the remaining time be full of 
pleasantness to you, and profit to the congregation who have 
so long enjoyed your ministrations. We are still unmoved, 
and I trust immovable at present, owing to warm weather 



114 REV - WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

and rain — stuck in the mud — likely to stay till April or 
May ; at least so they say — or to start any day. 

Yours, faithfully, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

Then follows one to the dear mother : 

Camp at Brandy Station, Jan. 11,1864. 
My Dear Mother : — Your last letter was duly received, 
and I quite agree with you that slavery is doomed. It 
cannot long survive this war. I think with you also that 
those men who have been lying back in forts and garri- 
sons, ought now to come forward, do their share, and 
relieve the men who have borne the burden and heat of 
the war: — but Government does not seem, to think so, 
and therefore we shall probably be in one or two more 
battles before our term of service expires. The regiment 
has already participated in seventeen battles. I can use 
all the papers you will send, as the men are constantly 
calling at my tent for something to read. Our weather 
continues bitterly cold, and the men who are out on picket 
suffer very much. Some of them freeze their limbs, and 
here and there one perishes. In camp they have shel- 
ter tents, which afford some protection, but when they go 
out, they have to stay three days and nights, leaving their 
tents behind. If it is very cold or wet, therefore, they 
suffer greatly. It is rumored that we are shortly to move 
again, but I hope not, for the men have but just com- 
pleted their houses, and it would be hard to have to 
leave and build others. 

Your affectionate son, 

Warren. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 115 

And now " Brother Bradlee " is in order : 

Camp at Brandy Station, Feb. 18, 1864. 

My Dear Bradlee : — I hope to be able to administer 
the Communion on the first Sunday in June, to which you 
referred in your last ; but if we should be in the midst 
of an active campaign, it is doubtful if the regiment would 
be allowed to leave. Nearly our entire army started yes- 
terday on a gigantic raid or reconnaissance into the enemy's 
country. They will be gone three days, and hope to bring 
back valuable information, and some prisoners. We have 
had some bitterly cold weather this month, when everything 
was frozen stiff. The men did not engage in their usual 
drills, etc., but tried only to keep comfortable, and all suc- 
ceeded but those on guard and picket duty. They suffered. 

I read your tribute to Brother Starr King, as printed 
in the Traveller, and thought it timely, well written and 
appreciative. To me, the great charm in Mr. King's public 
life and private character was his active sympathy with 
all the reformatory movements of the day, and his uncom- 
promising identification of himself with man, God's child, 
his brother, everywhere. 

I am rejoiced to hear of your call to the Church of 
the Redeemer, and hope you may have a long and useful 
pastorate there, and that God will grant you health and 
strength sufficient to attain your long-cherished ideal of 
thoroughness in the ministerial office. We expect General 
Grant as our permanent commander. May God continue 
his successes as a military leader. 

Cordially yours, 

W. H. Cudworth. 



Il6 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

The home letters, presaging as they now did 
the return of the loved pastor and brother, were 
received with redoubled interest. 

Camp at Brandy Station, Feb. 18, 1864. 
My Dear Mother: — Our army is passing through its 
usual winter's quiet. The chaplains and various delegates 
of the Christian Commission are unusually busy, and quite 
a strong religious interest has been aroused all through 
the army. There are prayer meetings every evening, and 
in some cases every day at ten o'clock, in various regi- 
ments, at which many backsliders profess their penitence 
and determination to reform, and many who have never 
found the Lord rise and ask for prayers. I preach every 
Sunday, not only in my own regiment, but also in the 
1 6th, of which Rev. A. B. Fuller was the chaplain. I am 
having a large hospital tent fitted up as a chapel for our 
evening prayer meetings, in which we shall be almost as 
comfortable as in a vestry. We probably shall not leave 
here till the spring campaign opens, which will not be 
until April or May. The army is increased every day, and 
by that time must number over one hundred thousand 

men. With love to all. 

Your affectionate son, 

Warren. 

Camp at Brandy Station, Mar. 14, 1864. 
My Dear Mother: — We have been visited with drench- 
ing rains partaking more of the character of squalls than 
storms, which have covered the earth with water, removed 
the frost from the ground, and filled all the brooks to 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 117 

overflowing. High March winds have come, however, dry- 
ing the soil very rapidly, so that we shall have good 
roads in the course of another month at least. The relig- 
ious interest which commenced in the army some months 
ago still continues, and has already brought forth good 
fruits. In our own regiment we have meetings of some 
sort every evening in the week, and they are all well 
attended. I preached four times yesterday, twice at home, 
once for the 16th Massachusetts and once at Division Head- 
quarters. My sermons are never written, always short, and 
just as practical as I can make them. There was a time, 
when, on account of my anti-slavery sentiments, some did 
not like to hear me speak. But that has ceased now, for 
they see I was right. God has done, and will do, by his 
Providence, what the wisdom and power of man utterly 
failed even to commence. About all zve can do is to 
stand still and see the wonders of His salvation. 

Your affectionate son, 

Warren. 

Brandy Station, Mar. 31, 1864. 
My Dear Mother: — God is continuing in the army the 
good work that he began early in the winter, and which 
likewise seems to be going on at home. In my own regi- 
ment we continue to have meetings every evening, and 
three on Sunday. A week ago last Sunday the Rev. A. P. 
Putnam from Roxbury was with us, and as he had just 
returned from travels abroad, during which he visited 
Egypt, Jerusalem, and the Holy Land, his remarks were 
very interesting and instructive. Last evening, at one of 
our prayer meetings, we had two delegates from the " Boston 



Il8 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Young Men's Christian Association " present, and they 
spoke very acceptably to a good-sizecl audience. 

There is no immediate prospect that we shall leave here 
under three or four weeks, and that will give us opportunity to 
hold quite a number of religious meetings, at which I hope 
much good may be done. The term of service of our 
regiment expires in little more than seven weeks, yet we 
may be again called to pass through very trying scenes 
ere that time has elapsed. The rebels are making great 
preparations on their side, as we are on ours. General 
Grant has already commenced bis reforms in the town of 
Culpepper, where he has his headquarters. He has re- 
moved the soldiers and set laborers to work cleaning the 
streets, mending houses, fences, etc., and repairing things 
generally. He makes no show, and goes about the army 
almost unattended. I hope and pray that God will pros- 
per him. 

Your affectionate son, 

Warren. 

Then occurs a letter in the Boston Journal, 
from a visitor to the regiment : 

I started for a tour through the mud from regiment to 
regiment wherever I could find the Bay State boys. The 
nearest in order is the first numerically — the Massachusetts 
First. This excellent body of men lies comfortably en- 
camped about a mile from Brandy Station, in rough but 
tolerable quarters. Like all our other regiments, it has 
never yet had orders to enter winter quarters. Some weeks 
since orders came to fall in for an onward movement, but 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 119 

directly they were countermanded. That was the last 
order; but in the absence of orders the boys have puttied 
up the cracks with Virginia mud, and they are in pretty 
good shape, clean and warm. The effect of their mode of 
living can be seen in the condition of the officers and men. 
Some two hundred are absent on detached duty, or wounded 
or sick in hospitals, as the result of former engagements 
and hardships, but of the four hundred present in camp 
there are literally no sick. It has excellent officers, and 
the men are tried and proved soldiers. The regiment 
enjoys — what too many Massachusetts regiments are desti- 
tute of — a good chaplain. Rev. W. H. Cudworth has 
been with the regiment since it entered the service, now 
almost three years, during which time he has constantly 
devoted himself to the good of his charge. He has not 
even been home since the first Bull Run. Such an ex- 
ample on the part of an officer who can go home on 
leave occasionally, has an excellent effect on the men, who 
cannot go. A hardier set of fellows can scarcely be found- 
Their history is too well known to the readers of the 
Journal to require mention from me. There is no Massa- 
chusetts regiment — and when you say that, you may say no 
other regiment — with a better reputation, either at home 
or in the army, than the Massachusetts First. 

And then more home letters : 

Brandy Station, Apr. 2, 1864. 

My Dear Sister: — I received your letter and Harper's 

Weekly for to-day, containing the picture of " The Great 

Organ." It certainly must be a noble instrument, and I 

hope to enjoy it with you ere long. I am very glad to 



120 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

know that you have so true an idea of " gossip." The 
words we retain are our servants, while the words we utter 
are our masters. Whoever has complete control of his 
tongue, we are assured, is "perfect and entire, wanting 
nothing." God gave us two ears and two eyes, that we 
should hear and see four times as much as we speak. 
What a pity that so many should speak four times as 
much as they see or hear. 

We are having to-day a driving northeast snowstorm. 
The snow melts as fast as it falls, but it is filling all 
the streams, flooding the fields, and rendering the roads 
almost impassable, so that it must be at least three or four 
weeks before we can undertake any forward movement. 
The five corps ist, 2d, 3d, 5th, and 6th have been reor- 
agnized into the 2d, 5th, and 6th, to which nearly. fifty 
thousand troops are to be added, and then with Hooker, 
Burnside, and Butler to cooperate, each having fifty thou- 
sand men or thereabout, I think the army of General 
Lee, in the coming campaign, will be in the tightest place 
it has found yet. We may be doomed to another failure, 
and if we are it is a good thing that we know how to 
bear failure ; but I cannot but hope that the Fourth of 
July will see our glorious banner floating over all the soil 
of the Old Dominion, and borne onward by victorious 
hosts to the Carolinas and Gulf States. 

Your affectionate brother, 

Warren. 

Camp at Brandy Station, Apr. 19, 1864. 
My Dear Sister: — Report asserts that our regiment is 
to be ordered back this week or next, and will rendezvous 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 121 

at Fort "Warren. Many of the officers, and most of the 
men, believe it, but their desires are father to their faith, 
I think. If we should come, I should try to come up 
Sunday mornings long enough to preach. Everything here 
looks like a move as soon as the weather and roads will 
allow. I received the programme of Mr. Bradlee's instal- 
lation services, and wish him every success. He has done 
well and faithfully by my society during my absence. I 
have read O. W. Holmes' description of " The Great In- 
strument," and enjoyed it much. For a week past I have 
been quite sick with my throat and lungs, and was obliged 
to give up all work, even reading the Psalm at dress 
parade. One night I was in a high fever and found it 
so difficult to breathe that I thought my time had surely 
come. But through the mercy and goodness of God, I 
am slowly recovering my former health and strength. You 
can imagine what sort of a place a ten-foot square tent 
is to be sick in, during a cold rainstorm. I do not won- 
der so many men die in the army. Indeed, I wonder so 
many live to return. Our spring is very backward. The 
buds have hardly begun to swell, and no flowers have yet 
appeared. The mountains too are covered with snow. But 

God reigns. 

Your affectionate brother, 

Warren. 

Camp at Brandy Station, Apr. 28, 1864. 
My Dear Sister: — Thanks to good habits, a sound con- 
stitution, and above all, to the kind Father above, I am 
now rapidly recovering my former health and spirits. I 
have resumed all my duties, and the meetings in our regi- 
mental chapel every evening are interesting and instructive. 



122 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 



We expect soon to change base, after which no letters 
will be transmitted except official ones, until we come to 
a halt. I am glad to hear that a reception awaits me in 
East Boston, should I return, on account of the momentous 
principle of which in the army I have been the most 
prominent representative from East Boston. The principle 
which is the life of our nation, and the hope of the world, 
and upon whose defence and vindication depends the lib- 
erties of mankind, the enemies of which, if they succeed, 
will retard human progress at least another century, and 
cloud three generations with another age of darkness and 
despotism. For the sake of this principle I would have 
a hearty and enthusiastic reception, hoping that all who 
greet me with individual affection, may be willing that 
their act shall receive the significance of a public endorse- 
ment of the cause I have served for three years. There 
is now no prospect of our coming home before the expira- 
tion of our term of service, the twenty-fifth of May, and 
if in the midst of an active campaign, we may not be 
able to come then. If God will, however, I hope to see 

you all soon. 

Your affectionate brother, 

Warren. 

This hope was realized, and the following ap- 
peared in an evening paper shortly before their 
arrival. 

The First Massachusetts Regiment. 



If any regiment in the public service has earned an 
honorable discharge, and a title to the pride and gratitude 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 23 

of its State, that regiment is the First Massachusetts, now 
on its way home, having fully completed its three years' 
term. This was the first three years' regiment that left the 
State, and the first in the service of the United States. 
In its original composition it was chiefly made up of the 
First Regiment M. V. M., of which Colonel Cowdin was 
the commander, who went out in command. The regiment 
left camp for the seat of war on the fifteenth of June, 
1S61. It marched through Baltimore on the seventeenth 
of June, being the first regiment that had passed through 
that city since the attack made on the 6th Massachusetts, on 
the nineteenth of April previous. We know not how many 
of the one thousand stalwart men who formed the regi- 
ment when it left the State are now living. Over two 
thousand men have been connected with the regiment since 
its organization, and we are told that but three hundred 
return with the regiment. These war-worn veterans are the 
representatives of that long line of untried men whose 
glittering muskets, and tidy uniforms, and soldierly appear- 
ance, excited the admiration of our citizens when drawn 
up on Boston Common three years ago. Upon them and 
their comrades who have been honorably discharged for 
disability, rests the honors of the regiment. And what a 
roll of honor it is! The first to open the serious fighting 
of the war on the day before Bull Run, it has participated 
in nearly or quite every battle of the Army of the Potomac. 
It was at Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glendale and Malvern 
Hill on the peninsula, Kettle Run, Second Bull Run, 
Chantilly, and Fredericksburg in the year 1862, and at Fred- 
ericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg in 1863. In 
every battle the Massachusetts First has acquitted itself 



124 REV - WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

creditably, and its colors have never been touched by a 
rebel hand. It has suffered severely in killed and wounded 
in almost every battle. The following is a list of the 
Field Staff and Line Officers at present : 

Colonel, N. B. McLaughlin; major, Gardner Walker; 
surgeon, Edward L. Wheston ; adjutant, Charles E. Mudge, 
(wounded) ; quartermaster, Miles Farwell ; assistant surgeon, 
Isaiah L. Pickard ; chaplain, Warren H. Cudworth ; cap- 
tains, Ebenezer W. Stone, Charles M. Jordan, Frank W. 
Carruth, John McDonough, John S. Clark; first lieutenants, 
George Myrick, John S. Willey (wounded), Frederick 
E. Dolbeare, William E. Hayward, George L. Lawrence, 
William H. Fletcher, William P. Drury ; second lieutenant, 
Nathaniel Averill. The regiment went out one thousand 
and forty-six strong, and has received nearly twelve hun- 
dred recruits. There are now present for duty twenty-one 
commissioned officers and four hundred and forty-four en- 
listed men; present and absent, thirty officers and five hun- 
dred and sixcy-five men, showing a loss of over sixteen 
hundred men killed, wounded, missing and discharged for 
disability since the twenty-third of May, 1861. 

The early morning of May 25 saw the streets 
of Boston thronged, and the approaches to the 
depot by which the regiment was to arrive, lined 
with the friends and relatives of the returning 
soldiers. With difficulty could the masses be re- 
strained in their outbursts of joyous greetings as 
the cars rolled in, and could officers and men 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 1 25 

have been borne through the city by their will- 
ing hands, it would have been done. The line 
was formed as soon as possible, and the heroes 
marched to Faneuil Hall, where the following 
" Address of Welcome " was feelingly delivered by 
that stanch friend of the soldier and his country, 
Governor Andrew. 

We address this scarred and war-worn remnant of two 
thousand men who to-day stand in Faneuil Hall again, and 
who have received the plaudits in our streets of an hun- 
dred thousand patriotic hearts. These welcomes, the sobs 
of those dear ones who took their heroes' joy fully in 
their arms, speak with more than human voice. We do 
not forget these three years of immortal history, written 
with your bayonets, carved with your swords, and sanctified 
with your blood, nor can we help wondering whether we 
are addressing the classic heroes of other years, or the 
real heroes of to-day. Many have fallen in the fore front 
of battle, face to the foe ; many sleep in unknoAvn graves 
who will answer at the grand roll call hereafter, to receive 
the reward that men nor nations never can bestow. The 
simple thanks of honest hearts are due to all, living and 
dead. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, addressing not 
only the present officers and men of the First Regiment, 
but General Cowdin, and all those among the living who 
have participated in your trials, to the veterans in line 
and the veterans before discharged, gives her heartiest 
thanks, and during all the years remaining on earth, may 



126 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

the honest substantial gratitude of patriotic hearts make 
their paths happy. Let thanks to God be raised, and 
prayers, that in his own good time He will crown our 
arms with victory. 

After other speeches, the eager band of patriots 
separated for the homes which would be so glori- 
fied and cheered by their presence. An evening 
paper told us what those knew who were privi- 
leged to be there, of " A Glorious Welcome Home." 

Last evening the Unitarian Church of East Boston was 
filled by the friends of Rev. W. H. Cudworth, who gave 
him such a welcome home as must have thrilled his soul 
with inexpressible pleasure. After three years of war and 
privation as chaplain of the Massachusetts First Regiment, 
in the defence of civil and religious liberty, his friends 
felt that they could not do too much to show how well 
they appreciated his services. And he was grateful almost 
to tears. A happier reunion it was never our pleasure to 
witness. The interior of the church was beautifully deco- 
rated with evergreens and flowers; young ladies represent- 
ing the States of the Union were arranged in front of 
the altar; an original hymn composed for the occasion 
was sung, all breathing gratitude to God for the safe 
return of their beloved pastor. After the exercises in the 
church were closed the members of the parish adjourned 
to the vestry, and as Mr. Cudworth entered, they all sang 
Sweet Home in glorious harmony. Patriotic speeches fol- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 27 

lowed, after which the company partook of a collation, 
provided by the ladies, while every face was wreathed 
with smiles and every eye was bright with pleasure. 
Toward Mr. Cudworth, all the patriotic present felt that 
the hero " returning from successful war was not more 
entitled to the homage of admiration " than he who had 
voluntarily left home and all the endearments of devoted 
friends, to bind up the warrior's wounds, or soothe his soul 
in its passage from time to eternity, This was his self- 
imposed mission, and most nobly has he performed it. 
But he has his reward, not only in the approbation of 
his own conscience, but in the warm devotion of his 
friends, who during three years have never ceased to re- 
member him in their prayers. May their mutual sympathy 
endure through life and be renewed in heaven. 

Then followed "The Soldiers' Reception in East 
Boston." 

The demonstration in honor of the returned veterans of 
the First and Twenty-ninth Regiments belonging in East 
Boston took place yesterday afternoon. Notwithstanding 
the inclemency of the weather, the gathering of citizens 
to show them honor was very large. Flags were profusely 
displayed from all the prominent buildings, various salutes 
were fired, and the congratulations and welcomes of the 
people were hearty and numerous. The procession was 
formed on Webster Street, and commenced moving at 
about half-past one in command of Lieutenant Dal ton, 
marshal of the day. It was headed by a detachment of 
police, followed in succession by the Brigade Band, the 



' 128 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Bowker Light Guard, in command of Captain George H. 
Smith, and then came the veterans, consisting of Com- 
pany B. of the First Regiment, in command of Captain 
Henry, and Company K. of the Twenty-ninth, in command 
of Sergeant Daggett, the rear of the procession being fol- 
lowed by a great number of citizens, many of whom were 
former military associates of the returned veterans. After 
the procession had marched through the principal streets, 
a generous banquet, provided at the Sturtevant House, 
was partaken of. The spacious dining-hall had been ele- 
gantly decorated for the occasion, and besides the abun- 
dance of flags and bunting displayed, there were also 
numerous mottoes, some of them bearing the words " Har- 
rison's Landing, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gettys- 
burg," and the names of other memorable battle-fields on 
which the veterans had honorably distinguished themselves. 
After appetites had been satisfied, order was called by 
Mr. Albert Bowker, who presided on the occasion, after 
which prayer was offered by Chaplain Cudworth of the 
First Regiment. Mr. Bowker then extended a hearty wel- 
come to the veterans, after which there were short and 
appropriate remarks by General Cowdin (formerly Colonel 
of the First), Adjutant-General Schouler, Chaplain Cud- 
worth, Captain Henry of the First Regiment, and others. 
In the evening there was ■ a promenade concert in honor 
of the veterans at Sumner Hall, which lasted until ten 
o'clock, and then there was a grand levee and social re- 
union at Sturtevant Hall. The occasion altogether was 
one of rare interest, eminently deserved by the returned 
veterans and highly creditable to the appreciation and 
liberality of the citizens of East Boston. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 12 9 

The first Sabbath "at home" of the beloved 

pastor and chaplain was also the occasion of 

renewed joy, and well narrated in one of the 
local papers. 

Mr. Cudworth's Reception Yesterday. 

The East Boston Unitarians turned out in force yester- 
day forenoon and filled their church to its utmost capacity 
by way of continued welcome to their pastor, W. H. 
Cudworth, chaplain of the Massachusetts First Regiment. 
After the invocation, " God Speed the Right " was sung 
by the whole congregation, with glorious enthusiasm, show- 
ing that their hearts responded to its beautiful sentiments. 
Mr. Cudworth preached an excellent sermon, urging the 
cultivation of hope and patience, illustrated by some of 
the leading incidents of the war. He regarded our opera- 
tions favorably, expressed unbounded confidence in the wis- 
dom and goodness of God to bring us safely through our 
troubles ; but at the same time urged us to labor with all 
our might to realize our hopes. With such a cause and 
such a country, we had everything to encourage us. fie 
paid a merited tribute to the President, and to those who 
had cooperated with him in their efforts to suppress the 
rebellion. The gallant dead and their bereaved friends had 
his warmest sympathy. He alluded to those of his own 
parish who had fought and fallen under his own observa- 
tion, and whose remains he had personally aided to inter. 
His discourse was listened to with marked attention. In 
the afternoon his reception by the Sunday-school was all 



130 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

that his heart could desire. The church was again densely 
filled, aisles and all, in fact, there was no standing-room 
left unoccupied. As he entered, the whole audience rose, 
the children and their parents waved their handkerchiefs, 
and gave other demonstrations of love. A song of wel- 
come, composed for the occasion, was sung with heartfelt 
rapture by the children, after which Mr. Halsey J. Board- 
man, superintendent of the school, in a very happy ad- 
dress welcomed Mr. Cudworth back to his " Lambs." The 
Sunday-school is the largest of the denomination in New 
England, and has been made so by the labors of Mr. 
Cudworth, who may be said to have given Unitarianism 
its present organization in East Boston. Both school and 
society were so thoroughly organized before his departure 
that their ranks have been kept well filled during his long 
absence. The exercises by the children upon this occasion 
were mostly expressions of welcome, tastefully arranged and 
successfully carried out. Short addresses were made by 
Messrs. Pond, Metcalf, Manson and others, which were 
well received by the audience. One of the speakers re- 
marked that Mr. Cudworth was amply repaid for all his 
toil and privation, by the cordiality of his welcome. Alter- 
ing Scott to suit the occasion, he might have said, " It 
were worth three years of tented life, one glance at their 
array." He concluded, however, with the wish that all 
present might live to see the day when they could stand 
everywhere — 

With freedom's soil beneath their feet 
And freedom's banner streaming o'er them. 

Mr. Cudworth, a short time after his return, preached 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 131 

a sermon in behalf of the New England Soldiers' Relief 
Association, which has its headquarters in New York, 
from the text, " And what shall we do ? " and showed 
his hearers what they ought to do in behalf of those who 
are now fighting the battles of our country. He is soul 
and body a practical Christian, and seems determined to 
look for the souls of his congregation in the right place — 
their pockets. They responded with nearly a hundred 
dollars. He also took occasion to speak in high terms 
of the Sanitary Commission and Christian Commission. 
Though of different organizations, yet they all labor for 



In June he, with General Cowdin, were again 
the recipients of complimentary notice. 

Levee and Presentations. 

The members of the Massachusetts First Regiment 
gave a levee and promenade concert at Andrew's Hall 
Saturday evening, in honor of General Robert Cowdin, 
formerly colonel of the First, and Rev. W. H. Cudworth, 
chaplain of the same regiment. The Germania Band offici- 
ated, and the attendance was quite large. An interesting 
incident of the evening was the presentation to General 
Cowdin of a gold badge, and to Chaplain Cudworth of a 
dressing-case. The badge was first presented to General 
Cowdin by Mr. J. H. Wilson, a member of the regiment, 
to which the general very feelingly responded. George H. 
Tyler made the presentation to Mr. Cudworth, expressing 
the strong attachment of the men to him for his uniform 



132 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

kindness and good offices for them while in service. Mr. 
Cudworth responded, stating that he considered it the 
greatest privilege of his life that he had been connected 
with the regiment. A proposition made during the evening 
by Mr. Cudworth to form a regimental association to look 
up all the disabled in the ranks and the relatives of 
those lost, was favorably entertained. 

The first Sunday-school concert after his return 
proved very interesting. " The church was crowded 
to its utmost capacity with the pupils and their 
friends. Rev. W. H. Cudworth, the pastor of the 
Unitarian Society, is also superintendent of the 
Sunday-school, and as he is an accomplished 
musician and devotedly attached to the instruc- 
tion of children, the mass of his scholars are 
unrivaled in their singing attainments. These 
were delightfully manifested to the great grati- 
fication of those who listened to the concert. 
The singing was interspersed with Scriptural exer- 
cises, recitations and introductory remarks. Hon- 
orable Henry H. Washburn made some excellent 
remarks, peculiarly well adapted to the compre- 
hension of children, in that graceful, easy, and 
interesting style for which he is so much ad- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 33 

mired by all who have had the pleasure of 
hearing him. Very few of our public speakers 
have the art of addressing the young with effect. 
In this respect, we consider Mr. Washburn as 
standing side by side with Mr. Cudworth. The 
entire exercises of the evening were very pleas- 
ing." 

The picnic of the Sunday-school was held at 
Beverly Grove, on the twenty-ninth of June, at 
which their loved superintendent was again the 
life and inspiration. The National Thanksgiving 
recommended by President Lincoln, in Septem- 
ber — "for the successes which have lately at- 
tended our army and navy " — was observed. 

At the Unitarian church, Rev. W. H. Cudworth pastor, 
there were services specially adapted to the occasion. 
Over ;he pulpit was the motto, " Laus Deo," and the 
pulpit was handsomely decorated with flowers. Mr. Cud- 
worth preached an eloquent and appropriate sermon from 
the text : " I came not to send peace, but a sword." 

October 19 the Sunday-school held a sale of 
useful and ornamental articles in their vestry in 
the afternoon, and gave an entertainment at 



134 REV - WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

Sumner Hall, in the evening, for the "National 
Sailors' Fair," held in Boston, by which they 
realized a good sum for that noble cause. 

October 30 a memorial service was held in 
the church in honor of Deacon F. A. James, 
who entered the service of his country in 1863, 
on board the gunboat Housatonic. 

" A very interesting service was held in the 
Unitarian Church, East Boston, yesterday morn- 
ing, in memory of the late Mr. Frederick A. 
James, carpenter in the United States Navy, who 
was taken prisoner at Fort Sumpter, and died 
at Andersonville, after a year's imprisonment. 
The pulpit was decked with American flags 
draped in mourning, and was ornamented with 
floral crosses and rich bouquets of flowers. Rev. 
Mr. Cudworth preached an interesting sermon 
from Psalm xxxvii. 37 : ' Mark the perfect man, 
and behold the upright: for the end of that 
man is peace.' " 

Sunday, December 18, memorial services were 
held in the church by Rev. Mr. Cudworth, 
commemorative of Captain William D. Crane, 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 135 

second son of Dr. P. M. Crane, who was killed 
at the battle of Honey Hill, Grahamsville, S. C, 
55th Massachusetts Colored Vols: 

February- 14, 1865, the society gave an "Old 
Folks' Concert " in Sumner Hall, which was 
both unique in costume and enjoyable in song. 
In March the "New Church" project, which 
had been held in abeyance during the war, was 
revived, and a series of five literary, patriotic 
and musical entertainments given in the church 
for procuring funds to prepare for a large fair 
in Boston. The New Year had opened with 
renewed confidence in our noble President and 
army, and joyful hopes of the near close of 
the war, when the dark pall of assassination 
overspread the people like a blast from heaven 
itself, and strong men groped about in tears, 
palsied with the intensity of the common woe. 
The Nation was in mourning; and from all the 
churches came the wail of sorrow. On the day 
commemorative of this sad event, "the Unitarian 
Church was decorated with flowers for Easter 
Sundav, and to these were added the emblems 



136 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

of mourning over the Nation's loss. The church 
presented a very fine appearance, and the pas- 
tor, Rev. Mr. Cudworth, preached an eloquent 
and able discourse." 

The usual May-day festival levee and sale 
was held at Maverick Hall. On May 8 our 
patriotic chaplain delivered in Sumner Hall, East 
Boston, by invitation of Council No. 33, Union 
League of America, a eulogy on the "Life, Char- 
acter, and public Services of President Lincoln," 
which was well spoken of, and printed for cir- 
culation. He also gave the " Reading of the 
Scriptures " at the " Memorial Services " held at 
Music Hall, Boston, June 1. 

The Sunday-school picnic was held June 28, 
at Stanley's Grove, Beverly. 

In October a "public meeting of the citizens 
of East Boston was held for the purpose of 
considering the matter of erecting a monument 
commemorative of the soldiers who have repre- 
sented the Ward in the army, and have given 
their lives in the service of the country." A 
committee of fifteen was appointed to make 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 137 

arrangements, collect funds, etc., all eager, like 
Mr. Cudworth, to do justice to the soldiers ; 
but the project was abandoned when it was 
learned that the city would raise a suitable one 
on Boston Common. 

Mr. Cudworth wrote and published, during the 
year 1865, a " History of the First Massachu- 
setts Regiment," which had quite a sale. 

The great religious wave which commenced 
early in 1864 its onward progress, seemed not 
yet to have wasted itself, but was still produc- 
tive of good. In an evening paper it was noted 
that * the " Unitarians have been holding pro- 
tracted meetings for five weeks in succession, 
every afternoon between half-past four and half- 
past five o'clock, and will continue them during 
the week. Besides these they have had meet- 
ings for members of the Sunday-school, for 
young men, and the regular meeting every Fri- 
day evening. At the last communion, seven 
members were added to the church." 

A large number of young people were im- 
mersed and admitted to the Baptist church, and. 



138 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

"in this connection it is pleasing to state that 
the Rev. W. H. Cudworth brought this subject 
before the Unitarian Sunday-school, and expressed 
his heartfelt gratification that so many children 
had made public profession of their faith in the 
Redeemer; and while he rejoiced in their joy, 
he hoped that his own pupils would follow this 
beautiful example. That they might appreciate 
it, he gave permission to all the teachers and 
scholars who wished to witness the ceremony, to 
go and learn to do likewise; he was not partic- 
ularly wedded to any mode of baptism; he de- 
sired to have all come to Christ in the way 
best suited to their convictions — but in any 
way to come. More than half the school went, 
but many of them had to return, as they 
were unable to obtain admission." 

The National Thanksgiving to the God of 
victory who had crowned our cause with success, 
was observed December 7. "Rev. W. H. Cud- 
worth, who served three years as chaplain of the 
Massachusetts First Regiment, who preached, and 
practised what he preached on the tented field, 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 139 

called his people together, and in the absence 
of the organist, opened the exercises upon the 
organ himself, as he is an excellent musician. 
He made the organ thunder forth the emotions 
of his patriotic heart in tones that thrilled every 
soul with enthusiasm. Descending from the or- 
gan to the altar, he poured out his soul in 
praise and thanksgiving to the God of the uni- 
verse, who had given us the victory. 

"He then called upon several of his congrega- 
tion, who spoke with becoming spirit. Singing 
interspersed with speaking was the order of the 
evening. Mr. H. H. Lincoln, principal of the 
Lyman School, read a spirited poem, on the 
'Fall and Recapture of Fort Sumpter,' which 
called forth tokens of admiration, after which all 
present sung 'Old Hundred,' standing; and the 
exercises were closed with prayer. The exer- 
cises in the other places of worship were also 
conducted with becoming gratitude and patriotic 
devotion, giving to God, and to Him alone, the 
praise for thus far conducting us toward the 
goal of peace. The labors and sufferings of our 



140 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

gallant soldiers, and the memories of the heroic 
slain, were alluded to in terms of heartfelt ap- 
preciation. East Boston from the first has been 
firm for the Union in all her votes, and now 
rejoices 'with joy unspeakable and full of 
glory.' " 

The year 1866 found both pastor and people 
zealous for the accomplishment of their deferred, 
but great need — a new church. The May-day 
sale and festival was held at Maverick Hall 
as usual. The Young Men's Association, with 
their pastor as president, proved fruitful of good. 
The Sunday-school anniversary was observed 
June 17, with its usual interest. 

June 28 the pastor and superintendent deliv- 
ered the annual address " Before the Plymouth 
County Sunday-school Association at Bridgewater," 
which was printed at the request of the associ- 
ation. 

Earnest in all the great reforms of the day, 
the Temperance cause, which had early engaged 
his support, could now receive more of his atten- 
tion. In 1866-67 ne was on tne executive com- 



REV. WARREN - H. CUD WORTH. 141 

mittee of the Massachusetts Temperance Al- 
liance. 

In 187 1 the Massachusetts Total Abstinence 
Society was formed, and he soon became one 
of their lecturers, and in 1875-76, was engaged 
by the year. He never lectured for the money 
he received, but threw his whole soul into the 
subject he believed in. The Newport Temper- 
ance Reform Club thus speaks of him : " After 
prayer the president introduced Rev. Warren H. 
Cudworth of Boston, who was witty, humorous 
and pathetic. Mr. Cudworth is an able and ex- 
cellent speaker, and gave one of the best tem- 
perance lectures that has been listened to in 
this city. At the close of the meeting, several 
persons signed the pledge and joined the 
club." 

The following was nearer home — Winchester 
Temperance Meeting. " This prosperous and at- 
tractive town was the scene of an earnest meet- 
ing in the cause of temperance, under the au- 
spices of the Massachusetts Total Abstinence 
Society, on Sunday evening, in the Orthodox 



142 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Church. Congregational singing of a high order 
was enjoyed, and a forcible address of an hour's 
duration was made by Rev. W. H. Cudworth 
of East Boston. His argument was, that follow- 
ing the abolition of slavery in this country, the 
next great evil requiring the cooperation and 
prayers of thrifty, intelligent and Christian peo- 
ple for its removal, was intemperance ; showing 
in conclusion what everybody could do, and 
ought to do, who had the good of the country 
at heart, and, moreover, how it could be 
done." 

The fair which his society had been industri- 
ously furthering during the year took place at 
Horticultural Hall, the week before Christmas; 
and the following portrays another principle of 
his well-balanced Christian character. The Boston 
Review (Trinitarian) for January, 1866, commends 
the East Boston Society, in the following em- 
phatic manner, for excluding from their last 
year's fair all raffles, etc. : 

We have read the advertisement with profound satisfac- 
tion, and take this method of tendering to the Unitarians 



, 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 1 43 

of East Boston our most heartfelt thanks for the valua- 
ble service they have thus rendered to good morals. 
How greatly such an example is needed in this particular 
direction, it cannot be necessary to remind our readers. 
We take leave to commend this action of the East Bos- 
ton Unitarians to the attention of those professing a 
stricter creed. 

The fair was eminently successful, thanks to 
Boston friends, who observed well the recom- 
mendation of one of the papers of the day, 
which concluded a long article with the follow- 



Those among the Unitarians who love their faith, and 
desire to see it spread, and who have the means, ought 
to aid such a man as Mr. Cudworth in his present en- 
terprise. Although this article is longer than we designed, 
when we commenced writing, it embraces only a brief 
outline of the labors of this worthy servant of Jesus 
Christ. As a preacher, he is bold, earnest and impres- 
sive, as a comforter to those in trouble he is the soul of 
sympathy, and in his social intercourse with all classes, 
few men appear to better advantage. He is beloved by 
his people who have nobly sustained him thus far to the 
extent of their means, and who now appeal to the pub- 
lic for that material aid, which will enable them to en- 
large the sphere of his usefulness. Build him the largest 
church on the Island, and he will labor not only to fill 
it, but to make those who fill it Christians. 



144 R EV - WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

In 1867, the friends of the Unitarian move- 
ment in Washington, D. C, were making strong 
efforts to establish a church of their faith in 
that important centre, and fixed their thoughts 
upon Mr. Cudworth as the proper man for their 
leader. They brought much pressure to bear 
upon him, and he preached for them during the 
month of April; but then returned to the church 
that was equally dependent upon him, and to 
which his vows had been first given. Meantime 
the work for the new church went bravely on. 
The members worked and gave generously, and 
their devoted pastor received many liberal sub- 
scriptions from friends in Boston. Another series 
of five miscellaneous entertainments was held to 
further the good object, and on May 23 "the 
leading members of the East Boston Unitarian 
Society met in the small Vestry of their church, 
to hear the report of the building committee 
upon the plans and estimates for their new 
church. The estimates for the church, exclusive 
of carpets, cushions for the pews, furnaces, and 
a few other articles, amounted to forty-two thou- 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 1 45 

sand five hundred dollars, and Messrs. Manson 
and Peterson undertook the work for this sum; 
the church to be ready, so far as they were 
concerned, about Christmas. The work will 
therefore be commenced immediately. The church 
will be of brick, with a granite foundation, and 
capable of seating nearly one thousand persons." 
"While the men were arranging business in 
the small vestry, the ladies were laying tables, 
with good things thereon, in the large one ; and 
when all was ready, the folding doors, which 
separate the two vestries, were thrown open, and 
the Rev. W. H. Cudworth was called upon to 
report himself to the ladies. It was a com- 
plete surprise. Robert C. Metcalf, Esq., in 
behalf of the society, presented Mr. Cudworth 
with a beautiful gold chronometer watch, as a 
birthday token — he is forty-two years of age — 
from his friends, and made a few complimentary 
remarks, to which Mr. Cudworth feelingly replied. 
A small sum of money, the surplus of the sub- 
scription, and a bouquet of flowers, were also 
presented to him, after which he invoked the 



146 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

divine blessing, and all did justice to the feast. 
One of the ladies of the society composed a 
spirited poem for the occasion, which was read 
in fine style by a handsome young lady. Every- 
thing passed off very pleasantly, and to the en- 
tire satisfaction of all concerned. 

"Now if the society wish to give Mr. Cud- 
worth a crowning surprise, one that would thrill 
his soul with pleasure, and add a whole story 
to his spiritual stature, they can easily do so by 
attending constantly the prayer and conference 
meetings and all taking an active part. It is 
for this he has labored for sixteen years, and pro- 
poses to labor while he lives. It is not theirs, 
but them, he seeks with his whole soul." 

The Sabbath-school anniversary was observed 
June 16, with ever increasing interest. 

On July 3 (the Anniversary of the Battle of 
Gettysburg) Rev. Mr. Cudworth offered prayer at 
the "Exercises for the Dedication of the Army 
and Navy Monument, erected by the city of 
Boston, at Mount Hope Cemetery." 

July 17, the hoped-for day arrived for the 






REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 147 

laying of the corner stone of the new church. 
"The exercises commenced with an invocation by 
the pastor, followed by the singing of a hymn; 
responsive service and chanting of the Lord's 
Prayer by the members of the Sunday-school; 
reading of the Scriptures by Rev. S. H. Wink- 
ley ; singing of a hymn ; prayer by Rev. E. S. 
Gannett, D. D. ; statement of the plan of the 
church, and the action of the society, by the 
moderator, Mr. H. H. Lincoln ; acceptance of 
the contract by Mr. T. L. Manson in behalf of 
the builders ; address by the pastor, Rev. W. H. 
Cudworth; at the close of which the corner stone 
was laid : I?i the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then followed 
the singing of another hymn ; addresses ; the 
doxology and benediction." 

The way now seemed clear for the completion 
of a church large enough to meet the needs of 
the society, and all felt hopeful and happy. 

November 12 our "Good Chaplain" gave his 
lecture on "Army Life," at the town hall in 
Cohasset, the proceeds of this and other lectures 



I48 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

all going to the new church — his family, as he 
was fond of calling it. The Sunday-school held 
its annual convention at Salem this year, at 
which Mr. Cudworth presided. 

January 19, 1868, he preached for the Suffolk 
Conference, at the Boston Theatre, on the sub- 
ject, "The Trials of Men are the Angels of 
God." 

March 10 the Improvement Club gave an ex- 
cellent musical entertainment for the benefit of 
the new church. The following Circular of 
Worship, Meetings and Social Occasions, every 
week, for 1868-69, will indicate the faithful care 
of his "large family," by our true pastor and 
friend. 

Sunday: Morning Worship of God punctually at half- 
past ten o'clock. Sunday-school Senior and Junior Depart- 
ments, in the large and small vestries, at two o'clock 
p. M. Bible class for Adults, in the Church Audience 
Room, at half-past two. Young People's Prayer Meeting 
in the Parish Parlor at half-past six. Evening Worship 
at half-past seven. 

Monday : Female prayer and conference meeting every 
week at half -past three, P. M., in the Parish Parlor. First 
Monday evening of every month a pastoral reception in 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 1 49 

the Parish Parlor, commencing at half-past seven. Third 
Monday evening Our Mutual Improvement Club, at the 
same time and place. 

Tuesday : Regular Sunday-school Teachers' Meeting and 
Bible Class at half-past seven, p. m., in the Parish 
Parlor. 

Wednesday : Regular Meetings of the Union and Young 
Ladies' Sewing Circles on the second evening and fourth 
afternoon and evening of every month, the latter being a 
picnic meeting, with supper, in the Parish Parlor. 

Thursday : A series of Lectures, Concerts, Readings, 
Scientific and Literary Entertainments will be given in 
the Large Vestry for the benefit of the Sunday-school, com- 
mencing Thanksgiving evening, November 26, and contin- 
uing every Thursday evening until the first or middle of 
April ; and Entertainments by members and friends of the 
Society and Sunday-school, the particulars of which will 
be duly announced in the usual way. 

Friday : On Friday evenings preceding the first Sunday 
of every month, is the Church meeting. Every other Fri- 
day evening, Prayer and Conference meetings are held in 
the Parish Parlor. 

Saturday : Juvenile Singing-school at two o'clock p. m. 
Adult Singing-school at half-past seven o'clock P. M. Re- 
hearsal for the Musical "Worship of the Sanctuary at half- 
past eight o'clock. 

And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him 
that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst, Come. 
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 



150 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

With such a plan of work was our true Chris- 
tian pastor prepared for the dedication of his 
beautiful new church, which was arranged for 
April 15. Previously he issued another circular. 

All the members and friends of the East Boston Unita- 
rian Society rejoice and praise God together for the suc- 
cess attending their efforts in behalf of the new church. 

There will be one week of prayer, God willing, in the 
small vestry of the old church, preceding Dedication, on 
the general subject, " Old Things Are Passed Away." The 
special subjects for each afternoon are as follows : 

Wednesday, Unbelief; Thursday, Uncharitableness; Friday, 
Self-Consideration; Saturday, Worldliness; Monday, Neglect 
of Gospel Privileges; Tuesday, All Unrighteousness. 

The general subject for the week of prayer in the new 
church immediately after the dedication, will be, " Behold, 
All Things Have Become New." The special subjects for 
each afternoon, are as follows : 

Thursday, April 16, Faith; Friday, Charity; Saturday, 
Consecration ; Monday, Godliness ; Tuesday, Attention to 
the Means of Grace ; Wednesday, Personal Holiness. 

All persons too busy, or unable from any cause to attend 
these meetings, are affectionately desired to remember the 
subjects assigned to each day, in their private devotions, 
at home or elsewhere. 

During the first two Sundays after Dedication, to enable 
members of the society to try seats in different parts of 
the house, the sittings will be free, and on Monday even- 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 151 

ing, the twenty-seventh of April, at seven and one half 
o'clock, all the pews will be put up at public auction, 
with an opportunity to bid for the right of choice; and 
after the sale of pews, an opportunity will be afforded to 
those who wish to bid for the right of choice to hire. 

The following appeared in an evening paper un- 
under the heading, " The East Boston Unitarians 
and their Old Church." 

Yesterday afternoon a few members of this society, with 
their pastor, Rev. W. H. Cudworth, met for the last time 
in the vestry of the old church. The subject considered 
was, " All Unrighteousness," which they earnestly prayed 
should be left behind, and that their future course should 
be toward a new life in Christ Jesus. The last speech 
made was a model, but requires a little explanation. 
Mr. Bridget, well known as one of Father Taylor's tars, 
stated that he was present at a Methodist prayer meeting 
many years since where a poor Portuguese sailor, whose 
knowledge of English was very limited, but whose soul 
was aglow with divine enthusiasm, made the best speech 
he ever heard. After floundering about for words to rightly 
express his view of religion, he clapped his hands in 
ecstasy and shouted " There is nothing like it ! " and re- 
sumed his seat. This was the last speech made in the vestry 
of the old Unitarian Church in East Boston, and will proba- 
bly be among the first made in the vestry of the new one. 
After the delivery of this glorious speech, the company 
shook hands with one another for the last time in their 



1'52 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

old church, and then proceeded to the new, where prepa- 
rations were making for its dedication. 

The city purchased the old church of the Uni- 
tarian Society at a liberal price, and converted 
it into an armory, which is used now, I think, 
by the " Sheridan Guards." 

The wished-for day at length arrived for the 
" Dedication of the East Boston Christian Unita- 
rian Church." "Yesterday afternoon the dedication 
services of this new church were carried out 
(agreeably to .the programme published in our 
paper of the 14th inst). The church was crowded 
to excess, aisles and all. About three o'clock 
the services commenced with a voluntary on the 
organ by Mrs. Hattie Sampson, after which Rev. 
Chandler Robbins, D. D., offered a prayer of 
invocation, followed by the congregation chanting 
the Lord's Prayer. The ceremony of possession 
was then gone through with by Mr. O. L. Shaw, 
chairman of the building committee, transferring 
the keys of the church to Mr. H. H. Lincoln, 
chairman of the society. Rev. Rufus Ellis and 
the congregation then read alternately passages 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 53 

from Psalm cxxii : 1 Kings viii., and Revelations 
xxi., xxii. At the close of this the act of dedi- 
cation took place as follows: the minister said: 
'To the glory of God our Father, to the gospel 
and fellowship of His Son, to the presence and 
communion of His Spirit, and to the highest 
welfare of His earthly children.' The congrega- 
tion responded : ' We devote and dedicate this 
church.' After the congregation had sung another 
hymn Rev. S. K. Lothrop, D. D., offered the 
prayer of dedication, the organ responding, fol- 
lowed by singing, at the close of which the 
pastor of the society, Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, 
delivered an able and interesting discourse from 
Luke ii. 14: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth 
peace, good will toward men. The remaining ex- 
ercises comprised singing by the congregation, 
the Salutation of the Churches, by Rev. Ezra S. 
Gannett, D. D. ; prayer by Rev. Edward E. 
Hale ; singing, benediction, and organ voluntary. 
In the evening there was a free dedication and 
organ opening concert, and again the church 
was filled. The programme consisted of fine se- 



154 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

lections of classical music, vocal and instrumen- 
tal, for the organ. These were performed in 
splendid style, and the artists were frequently 
applauded. These were Mrs. Fowle, soprano ; 
Mr. Winch, tenor ; Mrs. Shattuck, alto ; Mr. 
Upham, basso ; Mr. Whiting playing the organ. 
After the concert there was a levee in the ves- 
try, which was very numerously attended, and at 
which short and pleasant speeches were made 
by Rev. Edward E. Hale, Rev. Mr. Livermore 
and others. About midnight the services of the 
day were closed to the satisfaction of all who 
participated in them. Mr. Cudworth proposes to 
have preaching in the church every Sunday even- 
ing until further notice. The opening sermon will 
be delivered next Sunday evening by Rev. Ed- 
ward E. Hale. This afternoon, and every after- 
noon for six days, there will be prayer and con- 
ference meetings in the vestry, also the usual 
Friday evening prayer meeting. The church, with 
the land and other expenses, will cost about 
sixty thousand dollars, but it is a beautiful building, 
and has been fitted up with consummate taste." 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 155 

The last week in April, including May day, was 
held as a Festival Week by the society. On 
Monday evening was the sale of the pews. 
Tuesday afternoon and evening a sale, by the 
Union and Young Ladies' Circles, of useful and 
ornamental articles for ladies, gentlemen and chil- 
dren, with flowers and refreshments. " Prices sat- 
isfactory, and nothing sold by lottery." Wednes- 
day evening a fine concert by Mr. and Mrs. D. 
C. Hall, Mr. Rudolph Hall, and the Boston 
Brass Band. Thursday evening was devoted to 
tableaux, sacred and secular, interspersed with 
songs and readings by Miss M. S. Percival and 
Professor Lewis B. Munroe. Friday evening an 
attractive entertainment was furnished by the 
Young Ladies' Circle, with an instructive allegory 
called the " Voyage of Life ; " music composed 
and arranged by J. B. Sharland, Esq., who pre- 
sided at one of Chickering's Grand Pianos. The 
funds received were used in paying for the fur- 
niture of the new church. 

May 18 a cantata of "The Legend of Saint 
Cecilia" was performed in the vestry of the new 



156 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

church, under the direction of Mr. J. B. Shar- 
land, with fine effect. 

June 6 the Suffolk Temperance Union held 
an anniversary meeting at Tremont Temple, which 
was crowded to excess. Deacon Ezra Farns- 
worth presided. The opening prayer was by 
Professor E. A. Park of Andover, and Doctor 
Chickering presented the annual report. 

" Rev. Warren H. Cudworth of the East Boston 
Unitarian Church made an address. He considered 
the temperance question an unsolved problem, and 
considered at length the elements which entered 
into its solution. His address was very interest- 
ing. He thought intemperance would one day be 
looked at in its true light, and disappear as 
slavery had. This discussion, he said, in con- 
clusion, should be carried on in a spirit friendly 
to the rumseller and to the drinker ; not friendly 
to their practises, which must be resisted and 
restrained, but to themselves and their con- 
sciences ; for even the rumseller has a conscience, 
he had found. We might coax people, but could 
not drive them. Warm applause attended Mr. 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 157 

Cud worth's remarks, and he was followed by 
Warden Haynes, Mr. Deering, a reformed man 
who said a few words that moved all, and Rev. 
Mr. Fulton." 

June 17 the Improvement Club had its annual 
harbor excursion. 

June 21 the Sunday-school Anniversary was 
observed, and one of its pleasantest features was 
the christening of about twenty of the lambs of 
the spiritual fold. 

June 24 the entertainments of the season 
were concluded by a strawberry festival and sale 
of " remaining articles," refreshments, flowers, etc ; 
and July i the annual picnic of the society 
and Sunday-school was held at Stanley's Grove, 
Beverly. 

In September the new rooms of the Young 
Men's Christian Union were opened, at 300 
Washington Street, and the " dedicatory exercises 
were opened, with prayer, and the reading of 
the Scriptures, by Rev. W. H. Cudworth of East 
Boston." 

In December a course of seventeen lectures, 



158 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

concerts, readings, and other entertainments was 
instituted for the pleasure and profit of his peo- 
ple, in their nice large vestry, by their devoted 
leader ; and tickets were only one dollar and a 
half. 

"The usual Christmas fair and sale was opened 
December 15, and continued four days, for the 
benefit of the society, and in behalf of the 
Boston School for the Ministry." 

January 3, 1869, Mr. Cudworth preached in 
the Boston Theatre, under the auspices of the 
Suffolk Conference of Unitarian and other Chris- 
tian Churches, on the subject of Immortality; or, 
the Spiritual Body. 

March 18 another fine concert, The Cantata 
of the Ancient Mariner, was given in the lec- 
ture room of the new church, under the direc- 
tion of Mr. J. B. Sharland. 

March 30 our large-hearted, public-spirited 
brother delivered the address at the twentieth 
anniversary of Mount Tabor Lodge, East Boston, 
of which he was chaplain. At his death he 
was a member of twelve or more societies, 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 1 59 

lodges, temples, missions and unions, and was 
interested and helpful, if necessaiy, in them 
all. 

The services of Memorial Day, which at first 
were held on May 29, were ever very giateful 
to him, and he took a public part, somewhere, 
at every recurrence of the day. This year he 
gave the address at Woodlawn, where he now 
lies, at the grave of Mrs. Helen Gilson Osgood, 
who was a devoted hospital nurse during the 
war. 

The Circular of Worship, etc., planned for 
last year, was this year increased by Missionary 
Tuesday, a faithful missionary, Miss Susan C. 
Damon, having been engaged, who is still with 
us, and paid by the ladies of the society 7 . "The 
missionary will be in the Parish Parlor from ten 
a. if. to six p. m., on Tuesday of every week, to 
receive donations of clothing, etc., or impart 
information about missionary work." 

"The Thursday evening course of lectures, etc., 
were also changed to Tuesday, and a meeting for 
instruction in vocal music, and the practice of 



l6o REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

hymn tunes, anthems, cantatas, etc., is held dur- 
ing the cool weather, in the Parish Parlor, com- 
mencing at half-past seven." 

Over twenty cantatas were given in excellent 
style, in the pleasant Lecture Room, for the ben- 
efit of the church and Sunday-school, during his 
pastorate, of which he was the only instructor. 
O, faithful servant ! Why did God take you from 
us? 

June 23 the supporters of Free Preaching at 
Cooper Union, New York, sent him, through 
Dr. Bellows, an urgent request to become the 
leader of this movement, feeling that he had the 
requisite consecration and energy to insure suc- 
cess; but both pastor and people were agreed 
that the means of usefulness were large in Bos- 
ton, and that their mutual attachment should not 
be severed. 

" At the Sunday-school Anniversary which was 
held June 20, Rev. Charles J. Bowen, of Mount 
Pleasant Church, after a short address, closed 
his remarks by deprecating the separation of 
Mr. Cudworth from his church, and brought all 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. l6l 

the children upon their feet in response to the 
question of how many wished to have him stay. 
Twenty-seven children were christened, and after 
distributing a large number of Bibles and other 
valuable books to the scholars having a perfect 
record, Mr. Cudworth was very agreeably sur- 
prised by the bringing forward of a fine chromo, 
which was presented to him by his class; and 
also by a richly bound volume, from the library 
committee, both of which were very pleasantly 
accepted by him." 

The Mutual Improvement Club attended its 
usual aquatic excursion on the seventeenth. The 
Annual Summer Festival, under the auspices of 
the Union and Young Ladies' Circle, and the 
Sunday-school Committee, commenced on the 
twenty-second, and continued three days, with the 
usual sale of useful articles and refreshments, 
and four entertainments. Tuesday evening the 
Cantata of Esther in costume. Wednesday after- 
noon a preformance of legerdemain by Professor 
Harrington. In the evening Dramatic Represen- 
tations and Music, and Thursday evening the 



1 62 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Young People's Exhibition of Dialogues, Recita- 
tions, Songs, etc. 

June 30 the picnic of the society and Sunday- 
school took place at Maolis Garden, Nahant. 

"August 29 the Free National Church of Christ 
was organized at the Council Chamber of the 
City Hall, Washington, D. C," is a minute I find 
in his Church Records. 

The fall meeting of the Suffolk Unitarian Con- 
ference was held in the Hollis Street Church, 
and Mr. Cudworth was chosen first director. In 
November he performed a pleasant marriage cer- 
emony at Washington, D. C. 

November 10 the Independent Boston Fusi- 
leers held a reunion parade, and closed with a 
banquet, at which " the Divine blessing was in- 
voked by the Rev. Warren H. Cudworth. Among 
the toasts was one to ' The First Regiment — 
officered by veterans, abounding with soldiers 
who have faced death in the field. We are 
proud to belong to the corps that was the first 
in the Union to volunteer for three years or the 
war.' Responded to by Colonel George Johnston, 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 1 63 

The next in order was 'The Model Chaplain — 
the soldier of Christ, who feared neither man 
nor devil ; in the hour of danger a devoted 
brother ; in the hour of peace our best counsel- 
lor and noblest friend.' Received with cheers, 
Mr. Cudworth having departed." 

December 2 he was elected chaplain of Mt. 
Tabor Lodge, at the public installation of officers. 

December 19 he preached again at the Boston 
Theatre on " Religion, what it is, and how to 
get it." 

The course of lectures and other entertain- 
ments for the winter had been inquired about 
as early as October and a brilliant success pre- 
dicted. The " First Unitarian Concert December 
7. Those who visited the lecture-room of the 
Unitarian church on Tuesday evening, to the 
number of eight hundred, were highly entertained 
by the fine music discoursed by the Mt. Wash- 
ington Brass Band, composed of blind perform- 
ers. Considering the laborious and tedious task 
it must be for such persons to acquire a musi- 
cal education, and the absence of any leader or 



164 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

guide, the performance was truly wonderful, the 
time in most cases being remarkable. During 
the intermission the audience were enlightened 
as to the manner in which the blind acquire their 
education ; some of the younger performers read- 
ing from the Bible printed in raised letters, and 
passing through an examination in arithmetic. 
The concert was highly satisfactory, and was a 
very auspicious opening for the new course of 
entertainments. 

January 4, 1870. " The lecture announced to 
be delivered by Rev. Mr. Manning, in the Uni- 
tarian course, on Tuesday evening, was not 
given, Mr. Manning being unavoidably detained, 
and Mr. Cudworth gave his interesting lecture 
on Army Life, which proved very acceptable to 
the audience." 

The customary New Year's party was held on 
the evening of the third, and among the invited 
guests were the field and staff officers of the 
First Regiment, M. V. M., who appeared in full 
uniform, and contributed greatly towards the 
brilliancy of the occasion. Friendly and social 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 65 

intercourse and greeting were indulged in, a 
tempting repast partaken of, and the company 
separated at an early hour, much pleased with 
the second New Year's party held in the pleas- 
ant Parish Parlor of the New Church." 

January 9. "The closing lecture of the course 
in Clinton, Mass., was delivered last Monday 
evening by Rev. W. H. Cudworth of East Bos- 
ton, Chaplain of the First Massachusetts Regi- 
ment during the war. The speaker's happy method 
of discussing his subject rendered the lecture 
very interesting, and, to many, the most accept- 
able of the series." 

January 12 he delivered his lecture entitled 
The Law of Progress and the Secret of Success 
in Human Life, at the Hall of the Boston 
Young Men's Christian Union, 300 Washington 
Street. 

February 2 he was called to the melancholy 
privilege of conducting the funeral solemnities 
of his friend William Cumston, Esq., which were 
held at the Church of the Unity "Tribula- 
tion is profitable. Disappointment is a benefit." 



1 66 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

" It is good to be afflicted." " Blessed are they 
that mourn." " Challenge these sayings as we 
may at first, the will and the affections finally 
agree with the understanding, and bow to them 
as the teachings of reason, and the revelation 
of God. Man unrenewed by the grace of God, 
is a vain and imperfect creature ; impatient of 
control and unconscious of anything or anybody 
superior to himself. Left to follow out his own 
devices, his spiritual faculties become dwarfed or 
benumbed, and his moral powers perverted. Self- 
seeking, self-confidence, self-absorption, self-will, 
lead him away from God, and into sin. The 
wages of sin is death. God would not have 
man die, and therefore he makes sin odious 
and unendurable by invariably associating it with 
suffering. Sin and suffering always have been 
associated, always will be. * Before I was afflicted,' 
said the Psalmist, ' I went astray, but now have 
I kept thy word. It is good for me that I 
have been afflicted; that I might learn thy 
statutes. I know, O Lord, that thy judgments 
are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 67 

afflicted me.' ... If we saw our children, for 
whom we had prepared articles of silver and 
gold, clinging to others of iron and brass, or 
with hands full of common pebbles, which we 
could exchange for diamonds, pearls and rubies, 
we should not hesitate to take away the baser 
metals and the common stones, despite the tears 
and protestations of short-sighted youthfulness. 
So the All-wise and All-loving Father does not 
hesitate to remove from us the common minis- 
tries and loved things of earth, notwithstanding 
the tenacity with which we cling to them, and 
the sorrow we indulge at their withdrawal, know- 
ing that in their places we shall ere long re- 
ceive all Heaven's wealth of happiness and peace 
forever. ' For whom the Lord lovefh he chas- 
teneth, and scourgeth every one whom he receiv- 
eth, not for his own pleasure, but for our profit, 
that we may become partakers of his holiness. 
And although no chastening for the present 
seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless 
afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of 
righteousness unto them who are exercised there- 



1 68 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

by, and our light affliction, which is but for a 

moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding 

and eternal Aveight of glory.' Such has ever 

been the result of God's providential dealing 

with his earthly offspring, when patient and 

believing. 

He wounds to heal, 
He smites to bless. 

"When the War of the Rebellion broke out, he 
consecrated himself and all that he possessed to 
the Union cause, and among hundreds of patri- 
otic Bostonians, scarcely any one can be found 
who was more liberal in contribution, or more 
assiduous in endeavor. When the First Massa- 
chusetts Infantry was encamped at Budd's Ferry 
in 1861 and 1862, having no place where religious 
and social meetings could be held, he at his 
own expense sent on a chapel tent from Boston 
for their accommodation, and it was the only 
tent of the kind in General Hooker's division. . . 
During his last illness it was my privilege to 
see him several times, and he invariably greeted 
my entrance with a smile, and declared himself 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 1 69 

perfectly resigned to the will of God, whatever 
might be the issue of his disorder. At his re- 
quest I read portions of the Divine Word and 
knelt by his bedside in prayer, and his perfect 
self-possession, his unruffled calmness, were to all 
present in his chamber full assurance that he 
had received the peace of God which passeth 
all understanding, and been made partaker of a 
hope full of immortality. On the evening before 
he departed hence the choir of this church, 
which he had sent for, came, and sang a favorite 
hymn, which he seemed to drink in with delight, 
exclaiming, as it closed, ' How sweet ! how beau- 
tiful ! ? Who can doubt that his happy and 
blessed spirit has ere this been permitted to listen 
to those heavenly strains which are sweeter than 
the choicest harmonies of earth, and which celes- 
tial choirs warble above to the assemblies of 
the just made perfect ? " 

February 22 "A large audience assembled in 
the Unitarian Lecture Room to listen to a very 
interesting lecture by the pastor, Rev. W. H. 
Cudworth, upon ' Egypt, Past and Present,', illus- 



170 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

trated by nearly one hundred pictures magnified 
and illuminated by the magnesium light. The 
lecture contained a great amount of information 
upon the architecture, customs, and people of 
Egypt, and the illustrations proved very successful." 

In March " the beneficial influence and urgent 
necessity of the proper amount of sleep, was 
shown in a graphic and logical manner by Rev. 
E. E. Hale in a lecture upon this subject at 
the Unitarian Lecture Room, Tuesday evening 
last. The subject was well handled, and received 
from the appreciative audience the attention which 
its importance demanded. It is sufficient to say 
that those who did not hear it missed a great 
treat." 

"A Supplementary Course of. Three Entertain- 
ments, complimentary to the Standing Committee 
of the East Boston Unitarian Society followed the 
present series, the first of which was a fine 
concert." 

The monthly meeting of the Improvement Club 
was very interesting. " The usual amount of curi- 
osities were shown, and the president, Rev. W. H. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 171 

Cudworth, exhibited and explained the magnesium 
light to the pleasure and edification of all present." 

April 12 the Unitarian Lecture Room was 
again well filled to hear the " mirth-provoking 
Barnabee, with Mr. H. M. Dow as pianist, in 
the last of the three supplementary entertain- 
ments, and also those of the season. We under- 
stand the proceeds from the regular course have 
completely cleared the Sunday-school from debt, 
and placed about five hundred dollars in the 
treasury. They have certainly given a great deal 
of satisfaction to the audiences who have at- 
tended, and contributed much toward elevating 
the moral tone of the community'." 

"The Bible in our Public Schools. Has it 
any Right there?" This was the subject of "a 
Sermon preached in the Church of Our Father, 
East Boston, Sunday, April 10, 1870, by the 
pastor, Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, and printed 
by request." 

PRESENTATION. 

A very pleasant meeting was held at the rooms 
of the Young Men's Christian Union, of East 



172 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Boston, on Wednesday evening last. This even- 
ing has been set apart for prayer and conference, 
and just before the commencement of the exer- 
cises, the young men were much surprised at the 
appearance of about thirty-five of their lady 
friends, accompanied by Rev. W. H. Cudworth, 
who, in behalf of the ladies, presented to the 
Union, through the president, an elegant Bible, 
with the name of the Union beautifully inscribed 
upon the covers ; a fine picture representing Christ 
as the light of the world, knocking at a door 
overgrown with weeds, and also fifty service 
books, containing hymns and tunes for such like 
gatherings. The whole gift was most opportune, 
and the precise articles of which the Union 
stood most in need. The meeting was very full 
and pleasant, and the speakers all impressed with 
the necessity of renewed activity in the cause. 
Tuesday and Thursday evenings a free writing 
class is taught at the Rooms, and on Wednesday 
evening a prayer and conference meeting is 
held. 

All are invited to join. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 73 

At the meeting of the Suffolk Sunday-school 
Union, held in April, Mr. Cudworth gave an 
address on ''Schools," and also an address for 
" Easter," at the Arlington Street Sunday-school. 
He also gave the opening address at the fifty- 
first "Anniversary of American Odd Fellowship," 
by Eastern Star Lodge, East Boston. 

The past year was considered a prosperous one 
by the Unitarian Society and its friends. " Through 
the active exertions of the pastor, Sunday-school, 
and the ladies, the debt of the society has been 
reduced three thousand dollars, and the whole 
debt of the church now amounts to but little 
over nineteen thousand dollars. The society owns, 
however, pew property, which, if sold, would realize 
about twenty-two thousand dollars." 

Festival week this year was celebrated in May, 
with the usual sale and refreshment tables. 
Tuesday evening, May 17, the Cantata of the 
Pilgrim Fathers was given. Wednesday evening 
a dramatic and musical entertainment, and Thurs- 
day evening an exhibition of tableaux, interspersed 
with vocal and instrumental music. "After each 



174 R EV - WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

evening's entertainment there will be a social 
levee in the Parlor and Lecture Room, to which 
all are cordially invited." 

May 23 the usual birthday party to their pastor 
was held. "Affection beamed from every coun- 
tenance, and ' Peace on earth, good will to men,' 
was the watchword of the occasion, as well as 
the legend of the church. Tables were spread 
in the lecture room and loaded with all the 
delicacies of the season, which speedily disap- 
peared after the company had been called to 
order by H. H. Lincoln, Esq., the moderator of 
the society, and the Divine blessing invoked by 
the pastor. This being over, Mr. Cudworth was 
made the surprised recipient, from the parish, of 
a generous sum of money, for his personal use, 
arid from his singing-class, which he has in- 
structed without remuneration, a massive and val- 
uable pair of gold sleeve buttons, to which he 
very feelingly responded." 

May 25 the anniversary of the Unitarian Sun- 
day-school Society took place at the Church of 
Our Father. The occasion was of the nature of 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 1 75 

a social gathering, combined with a discussion 
of topics relating to Sunday-school instruction, 
and an exhibition of the Sunday-school con- 
nected with the society. The services as usually 
gone through with by the children, were the first 
in order on the programme. " The peculiar fea- 
tures of these exercises, or the results of his 
system, were explained by Mr. Cudworth, and 
apparently afforded much pleasure to the audi- 
ence, the fine singing of the children being the 
subject of general remark. John Kneeland, Esq., 
of Boston Highlands, then delivered an address 
upon 'Religious Instruction.' After discussion of 
the topics of the address by a number of the 
clergy and laity, and singing by the children, the 
visitors and Boston friends were invited to the lec- 
ture room below, where the use of this, and of 
the stage, was illustrated by a short entertain- 
ment, after which all partook of a most bounti- 
ful collation. The tables were spread in the 
Parish Parlor, and were most tempting in ap- 
pearance, being profusely loaded with edibles and 
flowers. The company did ample justice to the 



176 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

viands before them, and all appeared delighted 
with the good cheer afforded." 

On Memorial Day he assisted in the services 
at East Boston and Woodlawn cemeteries. The Sab- 
bath-school Anniversary was observed June 19, 
and among other reports it was learned that the 
amount received from the entertainments during 
the winter was $1415.14, the expenses of which 
were $584.89, leaving a profit of $830.25. The 
most of this money was spent in purchasing 
pews for the use of the scholars, settees, books, 
etc., leaving a balance of ninety-two dollars. 
The picnic this year was held at " Litchfield's 
Grove," Hingham. The Improvement Club visited 
Fort Warren, Hull, and other points of interest 
in Boston Harbor. 

July 4 the opening prayer, at the Anniversary 
Exercises in Music Hall, was offered by our 
patriotic chaplain. 

The serious fire which occurred in East Bos- 
ton on the twenty-fifth was made the subject of 
a sermon in which much useful advice was 
given, and its conclusion, " Though usually con- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 77 

flagrations are the result of human crime or 
carelessness, they are overruled by Providence 
for the good of his children. While the rich 
have only in a dreamy kind of way, fixed their 
affections on heavenly things, they are led by 
seeing their all go down, to see also their folly, 
and look higher for something that 'fadeth not 
away.' To the man so secured, loss is not so 
severe, because he has unspeakable gain." 

The society this year sustained the loss by death 
of their senior deacon, Deacon Benjamin Lamson. 
His wife had died three years previously, and 
their united epitaph might read, " Trice and Faith- 
ful to their Church and Pastor." Their funeral 
sermons were printed this year for distribution. 

At the "Annual Conference of the Norfolk 
County Sunday-school Association," Mr. Cudworth 
delivered the address on the " Religious Educa- 
tion of the Young." 

October 6 the singing-school commenced its 
sessions, free to all, as usual. The series of 
entertainments commenced October 18, with a 
concert by the Mendlessohn Quintette Club. 



178 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

November 24 a celebration of the Band of Hope 
was held in the lecture room, including songs, 
recitations, duets, dialogues, quartettes, etc., cal- 
culated to interest all classes, the young espe- 
cially in the temperance cause. 

November 27 the following appeared in New 
York papers : " The Church of the Messiah was 
well filled yesterday morning, and after the pre- 
liminary exercises were concluded, the Reverend 
Warren Cudworth of Boston preached an elo- 
quent and instructive sermon from the two words, 
Ripe Fruit, from Micah vii : 1." 

Another fair was held by his society in Hor- 
ticultural Hall, commencing December 20, and 
continuing for four days, which was quite suc- 
cessful. 

The Young Men's Christian Union" gave a 
dramatic and musical entertainment December 
26, for their own benefit. 

The following letter is one among many similar, 
found among the papers of our departed brother, 
and, in the words of another, indicate his " Mag- 
netism of manner and common sense of matter." 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 79 

New York, Jan. 10, 1870. 
Rev. Mr. Cudworth — Dear Sir: — In your sermon yes- 
terday, delivered at Dr. Bellows' Church, you expressed a 
fear lest what you had to give might prove unacceptable 
to those sitting constantly under what you were pleased 
to term "such good preaching;" but joined with this 
fear was the hope that your words might prove at least 
" suggestive " — and it is to the fact that your hope was 
not entirely without realization, that this letter owes its 
existence. A member of that church being deeply im- 
pressed with the forcibility and honesty which were the 
distinguishing characteristics of your sermon, wishes to 
express the sincerest appreciation of all that you said, and 
the heartiest thanks for your many and happy " sugges- 
tions." This is not flatten,' ; it is, if you will deign to 
receive it as such, encouragement, being the only return 
which it is in the power of the writer to make you for 
the ample encouragement you gave in those inspiriting 
words — " Go on " — and in the cheering promise of that 
Crown of Life awaiting all who shall be faithful unto the 
end. When that end shall come, may we both meet to 
praise the day when we encoitragcd each other. 

An Unknown Listener. 

January 15, 1871, he preached for the Boston 
Young Men's Christian Union, in the " Course 
of Sermons to the Young," at Hollis Street 
Church, on " The Blessedness of Living for the 
Good of Others." 



l8o REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

At the Sabbath-school concert in April, in the 
words of an evening paper, "was given one of 
the prettiest and most enjoyable entertainments to 
which it has been our pleasure to listen for a 
long time. This was a cantata called 'The 
Christian Graces,' and was sung by about forty 
children of the Sunday-school between the ages 
of five and thirteen. The three solo parts rep- 
resenting Faith, Hope, and Charity were sus- 
tained in a manner at once very creditable to 
themselves and delightful to the audience, by 
three young misses, one of whom quite aston- 
ished the assembly by her fine voice and clear 
enunciation. This and the other solos would 
have done honor to much older and more ex- 
perienced performers. Choruses, semi-choruses, 
duets and trios in equally fine performance 
made out the evening's entertainment. The 
scenic effect, as the beautiful little singers, 
clothed in white, with crowns of gold, and the 
badges denoting the name of the virtue repre- 
sented, marched to and fro from the parish 
parlor and stage, and in their several move- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 151 

ments upon the stage, was beautiful in the ex- 
treme. Even* one was delighted and hopes for 
an early repetition, which it certainly de- 
serves." 

The great interest which Mr. Cudworth ever 
evinced in children and schools was much grat- 
ified at the completion and " Dedication of the 
Girls' High and Normal School in Newton Street," 
in which he took part by " Reading of the 
Scriptures and an eloquent prayer." 

April 9 he delivered in his own church, under 
the auspices of the Massachusetts Total Absti- 
nence Society, an address on " Massachusetts 
and Rum," which the society had printed for 
distribution. 

In May occurred the twenty-fifth anniversary 
of the establishment of Unitarianism in East 
Boston, the commemoration of which he made 
arrangements for with his usual liberality. 

Monday evening, May i, " Rev. Dr. Thomas 
Hill, ex-President of Harvard University*, lectured 
upon his trip overland to San Francisco, illus- 
trated by a map of the route, showing the 



1 82 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

railroad grades, character of the country, and 
relative distances. The whole was replete with 
instruction and interest, giving pleasing incidents 
of travel in a familiar and conversational style, 
to the manifest delight of the intelligent audi- 
ence gathered." 

Tuesday the semi-annual fair and sale of the 
Union and Young Ladies' Circles opened for 
three days, and in the evening the " Cantata of 
Daniel ; or, The Captivity and Restoration of 
Israel," was given with a chorus of over fifty 
voices, Mr. Cudworth playing the organ. 

Wednesday afternoon was the Children's Jubilee, 
at which they had a public rehearsal of an act- 
ing charade, and the beautiful cantata of "The 
Christian Graces" was repeated. In the evening 
it was again given, and the entertainment con- 
cluded by one of George M. Baker's amusing 
" comediettas." 

Thursday evening the charade representing " Miss 
Atherton's Select Boarding-school," was given by 
the young people, and the evening's pleasure 
was closed by " A Needless Stratagem." 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 83 

Friday evening "public religious services were 
held in the church, consisting of prayer, singing, 
and short addresses by Unitarian clergymen of 
Boston who were settled over their respective 
parishes during or previous to the year 1846. 
The pouring rain of the evening prevented Dr. 
Lothrop, and Mr. Livermore, the former pastor, 
from taking part, as had been anticipated ; but 
Mr. Cudworth, Mr. Winkley and Mr. Bush made 
remarks appropriate to the occasion, when three 
silver vases for the altar, purchased by subscription, 
were presented to Mr. Hosea Lincoln, the modera- 
tor for the society, by Benjamin Pond, Esq., on 
behalf of the donors. Rev. Dr. Gannett then 
closed the exercises of our pleasant Silver Fes- 
tival, with some very interesting remarks made 
with all his old-time eloquence and vigor." 

"The Mutual Improvement Club held a very 
interesting meeting this month. Besides the numer- 
ous objects of interest exhibited, and the musi- 
cal treat furnished by members of the Club, 
there was an interesting geological lecture given 
by Professor Stoddard and Mr. Frank L. Dow. 



184 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

It was rendered in a very fluent and spirited 
manner by the gentlemen, who received very 
particular attention from the entire club. In ad- 
dition to the above talent, a full orchestra from 
Gilmore's Band was present, and gave the added 
pleasure of some charming music. The Club did 
not adjourn till a late hour r and then with 
reluctance." 

On the twenty-third ultimo the Vestry and 
Parish Parlor of the Church of Our Father was 
again a scene of rare pleasure and attractiveness 
on the birthday celebration of their beloved pas- 
tor. Some of the remarks bore rather hard upon 
the single blessedness of Mr. Cudworth, and the 
apparent neglect of duty, in this regard, among 
the ladies of the society, upon which reflections 
he ably retaliated, and defended his position. 
The company were then invited to partake of 
a bountiful and elegant collation, the evident 
relish of which, with the other pleasures of the 
evening, kept the company till a late hour. 

Memorial Day was again observed by "prayer 
by Rev. Comrade W. H. Cudworth" at the East 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 85 

Boston Cemetery ; the oration by Rev. James 
Richards, D. D. ; and at Woodlawn by prayer by 
Rev. J. B. Green, and oration by Mr. Cudworth. 

June 4 he preached a " discourse to the soldiers 
of the First Regiment, past and present, and 
Comrades of the Chelsea and East Boston Posts, 
G. A. R., Subject, 'Elements of National Security 
and Greatness.' " 

Among his warm friends were the Cheney 
Brothers, of Manchester, Conn., and the following 
note indicates the pleasant relations existing be- 
tween them : 

South Manchester, Conn., July 13, 187 1. 
Rev. Mr. Cudworth — Dear Sir: — You have taken 
the hearts of our people — I think you have been con- 
nected with the army — by storm — and, like " Oliver," they 
ask for "more." Can you preach for us again — one of the 
Sabbaths in September, either but the twenty-fourth? Mr. 
Cheney may not have returned from Europe, but your 
coming will give us great pleasure, and if he is here, I 
am sure it will be mutual. Please send me an early an- 
swer addressed care of " Cheney Bros.," and oblige, 

Yours truly, 

Mrs. E. D. L. 

The meeting of the Improvement Club for this 



1 86 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

month was interesting, as usual. In addition to 
the usual curiosities, Mr. H. H. Lincoln of the 
Lyman Grammar School, introduced four of his 
young lady pupils, who gave the company some 
very fine readings and music. Mr. Davy, another 
friend of the Club, gave a very excellent ren- 
dering of that difficult piece entitled " The Bells." 
Mr. Lincoln then read a humorous parody on 
" Excelsior," which created much amusement, after 
which the usual social converse was held. Their 
annual excursion was among the Islands of Boston 
Harbor, landing at Rainsford Island for chowder, 
and other refreshments. 

The anniversary of the Sunday-school was ob- 
served on the eighteenth with the usual amount 
of beautiful flowers, and keen interest in the 
occasion. After the usual exercises and reports 
were given, some very interesting remarks were 
listened to from Mr. William H. Baldwin, Mr. 
R. C. Metcalf, Rev. Mr. Schermerhorn, who also 
offered a beautiful bouquet he held in his hand, 
to the scholar or teacher who should correctly 
repeat the first three verses of the first Psalm. 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 187 

A teacher in the senior department repeated 
them with but one error, and received the reward. 
Mr. William T. Adams made the closing remarks, 
after which was the distribution of presents to 
the faithful ones. 

The picnic was held at Quincy Point, and 
the last entertainment for the season was the 
popular " Fairy Operetta of Laila," on Tuesday 
evening, Wednesday afternoon, and Thursday even- 
ing — June 20, 21, 22 — for the benefit of the 
school. "The young voices of our Island Ward 
are very promising. The time and harmony were 
remarkably good, and reflected great credit on 
their instructor, Rev. W. . H. Cudworth. The 
scenic effect when the host of fairies came skip- 
ping in, transformed in wonderful manner from 
ragged beggars, is very fine ; and the gorgeous 
red and green lights so successfully thrown on 
the scene, makes a dazzling and beautiful tableau." 

August 27 found our unwearied worker still at 
his post, and preaching at the Church of the 
Messiah, New York, on "New York's Great 
Danger, and How to Avert it." 



1 88 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

October 8 he delivered an address to the fire- 
men of the city, to which all were cordially 
invited. 

October 22, in harmony with his strongly ex- 
pressed convictions of "equal rights to all," 
he invited Mrs. Mary A. Livermore to officiate 
in his pulpit, and however some might question 
the propriety of woman's occupying that position, 
none, after hearing the able discourse, could 
doubt the equality of the sexes, when equally edu- 
cated. 

At the imposing ceremonies for "Laying the 
Corner Stone of the United States Post-office and 
Sub-Treasury Building at Boston," October 16, 
Mr. Cudworth was chosen Acting Grand Chap- 
lain for the interesting occasion. 

The free singing classes were again opened in 
October — Thursday evening for adults, and Satur- 
day afternoon for children. 

The fourth series of sixteen entertainments com- 
menced October 17, with a concert by Gilmore's 
Band. Mr. Cudworth's lecture in November, "In 
the Dark," "was a dissertation on the numerous 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 1 89 

things about which we are 'in the dark,' and 
of the evils and blessings of darkness, and was 
agreeably spiced with interesting and laughable 
anecdotes which he so well knows how to tell, 
and the audience expressed great satisfaction. 
In the course of the lecture he defended the 
connection of religion with innocent amusement, 
saying, ' all improvements have been opposed by 
persons in the dark, and who persist in remain- 
ing so.' He proved, by statistics, that the aver- 
age longevity is increasing, rather than decreasing, 
as some croakers would have us believe. He 
urged charity to those in the darkness of error, 
and characterized the custom of shunning those 
under the ban of society as worse than heath- 
enish, and in closing repeated some beautiful lines 
of Phcebe Cary's." 

At the meeting of the Mutual Improvement 
Club this month " one of the attractions was the 
exhibition of a miniature steam engine, in oper- 
tion. This, and its explanation, and a brief and 
comprehensive lecture on steam, by Mr. Cudworth, 
and the exhibition of numerous and interesting 



190 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

relics from the Chicago Fire, curiosities from vari- 
ous parts of the world, and vocal and instru- 
mental music, filled up the first part of the 
evening, while the latter was devoted to social 
converse. "This and similar associations, in the 
various churches, have done and are now doing 
more to fit young men for an honorable place 
in society, and for the cultivation of a spirit of 
Christianity, than the most eloquent sermons by 
the most gifted of preachers. Solid, substantial, 
practical Christianity and Christian interest in 
the welfare of our fellows binds them in the 
bonds of friendship, to be ripened and perfected 
into love for Him whose life was one of love 
and sacrifice for his fellows. To this club mainly 
are we indebted for many of our best friends, 
and we are proud to be able to say so." 

The Christmas Fair and Festival opened De- 
cember 19, and continued four days. The enter- 
tainment for Tuesday evening was J. W. Black's 
stereopticon exhibition of a " Famous Trip around 
the World." 

Wednesday evening a dramatic entertainment. 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 191 

Thursday evening an attractive tableaux exhi- 
bition, which was followed on Friday evening by 
a dramatic performance. 

"Rev. W. H. Cudworth had a lively rush of 
business on Thursday. In the afternoon at two 
o'clock he preached the ordination sermon of a 
lady preacher in Mansfield. At half-past seven 
o'clock he commenced a lecture at the Presby- 
terian Church, and when half through gave the 
audience a recess, allowing the organist to en- 
tertain them while he went to his own church 
to perform a marriage ceremony, after which he 
returned and finished his lecture." 

January 4, 1872, Mr. Cudworth was elected 
chaplain of the Massachusetts Legislature. In 
March he very much shocked the sensitive por- 
tion of it by " invoking, with undue fervor, the 
wisdom of Heaven upon the deliberations of the 
' House,' and even went so far as to intimate 
that a little light on the subject of 'Woman Suf- 
frage ' would be acceptable." 

The following afterwards appeared in one of 
the city papers : 



I92 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Rev. Mr. Cudworth, the popular Chaplain of the House, 
prays as pithily as ever, and never fails to secure the 
undivided attention of the members. The great railroad 
debate of the past two days has given a coloring to the 
opening devotional exercises, the prayer this morning be- 
ing as follows : All thy works praise thee, Architect Di- 
vine, in all places of thy dominion. We rejoice before 
thee to-day, that although fire and water mingled produce 
antagonism, from that antagonism we derive power and 
progress most promotive of human welfare ; and we pray, 
amid the fire and water of opposing convictions touching 
a great common interest under consideration, that the 
throttle valve of circumstances may start a power among 
us which shall force the driving wheel of opportunity 
along the broad highway of human good until that grand 
democratic terminus is reached, the greatest good of the 
greatest number. Amen. 

In August he received the following from a 
member of the House : 

Rev. Mr. Cudworth — Dear Sir: — I was never partic- 
ularly fond of clergymen, and am undoubtedly possessed 
of an undue amount of prejudice against them as a class, 
but I can truly acknowledge in your case that I find and 

admit a noble exception God bless you ; your work 

is not yet done. I see good reports of your manly words 
in the papers, and although I am not classed with the 
most zealous believers, I cannot forbear my word of just 
tribute to one who amid this general, heedless drift of 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 1 93 

individuality into the common current of popular opinion, 
is possessed of the requisite integrity and manhood to 

withstand the beguiling influences of hypocritical cant 

If ever you are in our city please give me a call. I may 
not kill the "fatted calf," but I will extend to you the 
fulness of sincere friendship and respect. 

Yours truly, 

C. C. M. 



January 17 he lectured at the Town Hall, in 
Revere, on the subject "Up Hill and Down." 

February 26 he delivered the address at the 
temperance meeting held at the Seamen's Bethel, 
on Hanover Street. " It was very effective, and 
deeply interested those who attended. These 
meetings are widely different from those usually 
held in such places as Tremont Temple, for at 
the Temple that class of persons for whom the 
lectures are especially intended, never come out, 
while at the Bethel the audiences are composed 
very largely of those who actually need to have 
the evils of intemperance held up before them, 
in the way in which it was done last even- 
ing." 

On May day an apron sale and children's 



194 REV - WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

jubilee was held in the lecture room of the 
Church of our Father, both of which proved 
very successful. 

May 23 the birthday party of the beloved 
pastor was observed. No speeches were in order, 
but Mrs. W. A. Holmes, in behalf of the society, 
presented him with a very elegant bouquet, the 
holder consisting of one hundred and twenty- 
nine dollars in good substantial greenbacks; ac- 
companying the gift with a few appropriate re- 
marks. Mrs. E. H. Cobb, widow of Rev. Syl- 
vanus Cobb, then followed with a short original 
poem, expressing the attachment of the people to 
the pastor, which was well received. Mr. Cud- 
worth made a feeling and hearty response, and 
after a short blessing, the company partook of a 
bounteous repast, provided by the ladies of the 
society, which brought to a close this very happy 
meeting of pastor and people. 

The annual meeting of the Unitarian Sunday- 
school Society was held in the Church of the 
Unity, on May 29, at which Mr. Cudworth 
opened the discussion of the topic, "Religious 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 1 95 

Training the distinctive Purpose of the Sunday- 
school." In the evening the anniversary of the 
Youns: Men's Christian Union was held at the 
Music Hall, and he spoke on "The Importance 
of Recreation to the Body, Mind, and Soul," 
and in a "pleasant and eloquent address, took 
strong grounds for popular amusements, showing 
that in themselves they do no evil; the acces- 
sories do harm." 

Memorial Day he delivered the oration at 
Attleboro, Mass., and in the evening, the Unita- 
rian Festival being held at Music Hall, he again 
made a short speech. 

June 4, 5, and 6, the Summer Fair and Fes- 
tival took place in the Parish Parlor and Lec- 
ture Room. The cantata of the " Haymakers " was 
performed on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, 
and the operetta of " Genevieve " on Thursday. 
" They were rendered by talent belonging to the 
society, and have been some time in prepara- 
tion by Mr. Cudworth, who directed the singing. 
During an intermission on Thursday evening, Mr. 
Baldwin, president of the Boston Young Men's 



196 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Christian Union, presented the Young Ladies' 
Circle with one hundred dollars in behalf of the 
Church of the Unity, as a testimonial of the 
esteem in which they are held by that society." 

Being still chaplain of the First Regiment, he 
accompanied them in August to Camp Wells, 
Strawberry Hill, in their week's " tenting out, 
where they enjoyed much the beautiful evening 
service it was his custom to hold each evening, 
having them formed in hollow square for the 
purpose." 

At the Firemen's Parade and Banquet in 
Music Hall, in September, he again showed his 
whole-souled public spirit in the prayer and re- 
marks he made. 

At the Sunday-school Convention held in Octo- 
ber the session was opened on Thursday by a 
discussion of "Exercises for Infant Classes." 
" Rev. Mr. Cudworth illustrated his method in his 
genial way, causing much amusement, and im- 
parting much instruction." 

In a sermon preached in November, on "True 
Riches," he said : " No man can tell whether he 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 



: 97 



is rich or poor by counting over his greenbacks, 
or rolling out his gold. He must look into him- 
self. His character, his relations to himself, his 
God, and his fellow-men make him rich or poor, 
and not the condition of his coffers. In har- 
mony with this was another of his utterances. 
It is of no use to patch the rents of worldliness 
with the cloth of religion, nor have a warp 
different from the woof. Christianity must be 
the raw material, must be carded, spun and 
woven without intermixture, or the garment will 
become dilapidated and wear out." 

December 2 the subject of his lecture at the 
Rooms of the Young Men's Christian Associa- 
tion was "In the Dark." "The audience num- 
bered about three hundred and manifested great 
interest throughout the lecture." 

December 19 "he gave his popular lecture of 
1 Up Hill and Down,' to a large audience at 
the hall of the Young Men's Christian Union. 
He instanced many cases where the vis inertia 
was all that prevented needed reforms, arguing 
humorously and powerfully in favor of congrega- 



198 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

tional singing. His remarks were frequently in- 
terrupted by applause and laughter. Mr. Cud- 
worth is a deservedly popular lecturer." 

The Christmas Fair and Festival took place 
December 23 and 24. Proceeds devoted to the 
good of the Society. 

In January, 1873, he accepted an urgent invi- 
tation to preach at Chicago, and his appearance 
in church after his return was the signal for the 
manifestation of considerable feeling. The singing 
of a " Hymn of Welcome," was a surprise to 
him, and very affecting. The display of flowers 
was very fine. It was soon known that the 
" Third Unitarian Church and Parish of Chicago 
had extended a very unanimous and earnest call 
to him to become their pastor at a salary of 
three thousand dollars. His church was mucK 
agitated over this, and hoped that he would see 
it to be his duty to' decline the call, for they 
would regard his removal as a serious disaster." 
" There are a very large number outside of his 
church and parish who freely share this feeling. 
Mr. Cudworth's labors have been by no means 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 199 

confined to his own parish. He has been for 
years a most efficient and faithful member of 
the School Committee, and has rendered the city 
valuable sen-ice in this capacity ; and in , the 
work of the Christian Union he has been very 
active, as well as in other work where large- 
heartedness and earnest, practical work is needed. 
We hope that he will not go to Chicago, but 
continue his labors in our city." 

Thus said the Boston Journal. But he at first 
decided to go, and at the close of the services 
on the next Sabbath, addressed his congregation, 
stating the circumstances connected with his call 
to Chicago, read the letter from the Chicago 
church to him, and his reply thereto, after which 
he announced that he had placed his letter of 
resignation in the hands of the Standing Com- 
mittee, and called upon the chairman to preside 
during the remainder of the meeting. He did 
so and gave notice of a meeting of the society 
the next evening to take action upon the resig- 
nation. 

"At the meeting, resolutions were passed ex- 



200 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

pressing the love and respect of his people for 
him, and urging him to withdraw his resignation. 
This he finally did, and remained to labor still 
with the people he had served so long." 

His circular for the work of the society this 
year was as follows: 

DEPARTMENTS OF CHRISTIAN WORK. 

A — Religious Work. — " Not forsaking the assembling of 
ourselves together." — Hebrews x. 25. 

B — Benevolent Work. — " Blessed is he that considereth 
the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble." 
— Psalms xii. 1. 

C — Reformatory Work. — "Whether one member suf- 
fer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be hon- 
ored, all the members rejoice with it." — 1 Cor. xii. 26. 

D — Devotional Work. — "Men ought always to pray 
and not to faint. " — Luke xviii. 1. 

E — Social Work. — "Look not every man on his own 
things, but every man also on the things of others. Love 
as brethren. Be courteous." — Phil.W. 4, and 1 Peter iii. 8. 

F — Union Work. — "Diversities of gifts. Differences 
of administrations. — Diversities of operations. But the same 
God which worketh all in all." — 1 Cor. xii. 4-6. 

G — Industrial Work. — " And all the widows stood by 
Peter weeping and shewing the coats and garments which 
Dorcas made." — Acts ix. 39. 

M — Miscellaneous Work. — "Gather up the fragments, 
that nothing be lost." — John vi. 12. 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 201 

All these different heads were elaborated, sug- 
gesting the different duties appertaining to each, 
and nobly and faithfully did he perform his 

part. 

"What's What.". 

This was the subject of the lecture by Rev. W. 
H. Cudworth, in the Unitarian Course, February 
15, which was one of the best and most enter- 
taining of the season. In considering the differ- 
ent classes of men he divided them into the 
"I will's," the "I wont's," and the "I cant's." 
The former knew "what's what." The second one 
always " pooh-poohed " everything that was pro- 
posed, or threw cold water on it, and the latter 
didn't amount to much, anyway. 

These ideas he elaborated, and presented to 
his hearers in a very entertaining and edifying 
manner, and were much enjoyed by a full house. 

February 28 the Boylston Club, under the direc- 
tion of Mr. J. B. Sharland, gave a very fine mis- 
cellaneous concert in the winter's course. 

" On Fast night an entertainment was given 



202 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

in the lecture room, consisting of tableaux, vocal 
and instrumental music. The tableaux were the 
finest we have ever seen in East Boston or 
elsewhere, and reflect great credit upon the taste 
and arduous labors of those who arranged them. 
The ' Wreath of Beauty ' was decidedly the hand- 
somest thing of the kind we ever saw; the 
' Guardian Angel ' was also a most beautiful 
representation. The unavoidable waits were agree- 
ably filled with fine musical performances by 
home talent. Altogether, the entertainment was 
of a very high order of merit, and was greeted 
by well-deserved applause." 

"The Semi-annual Fair and Festival of the Un- 
ion and Young Ladies' Circles took place May 
13, 14, 15. Tuesday evening military tableaux 
were given by U. S. Grant Encampment, Post 4, 
G. A. R. of Melrose, assisted by members of 
the Melrose Musical Association, and gave great 
satisfaction." 

Wednesday afternoon a Juvenile Symphony 
Concert was given for the amusement and 
benefit of the children. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 203 

Wednesday and Thursday evenings the fine 
cantata of " The Haymaker " was again presen- 
ted, to the satisfaction of all. 

On Memorial Day Mr. Cudworth gave the ad- 
dress at East Bridgewater, Mass. 

June 15 the anniversary of the Sabbath school 
occurred, and instead of the usual speeches, the 
" Oratorio of our Saviour " was " most beautifully 
rendered by about twenty scholars, accompanied 
on the organ by Mr. Cudworth." 

The Improvement Club enjoyed its excursion 
to Minot's Ledge Lighthouse on June 17. 

June 24 the Young People's Christian Union 
gave a splendid entertainment of music and dia- 
logues. 

" The Anniversary of the Unitarian Sunday- 
school Society was held in King's Chapel. The 
debate on the " ' Strength and Weakness of the 
Sunday-school Cause ' was opened by the Rev. 
W. H. Cudworth in a pithy speech." 

July 4 a large temperance celebration was 
held at Lake Walden, which Mr. Cudworth ad- 
dressed both morning and afternoon. In August 



204 REV - WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

he lectured at the Harvard Street Church, Cam- 
bridgeport. 

"The lecture was held under the auspices of 
the Massachusetts Total Abstinence Society, and 
like all of Mr. Cudworth's efforts in the temper- 
ance reform, was of the most satisfactory char- 
acter to the many friends of the cause who were 
present." 

November 9 he lectured for the " Channing 
Fraternity, at Huntington Hall, Lowell, on Uni- 
tarianism," which he did not believe to be 
Christianity, but simply its interpretation. " Chris- 
tianity is the possession of the spirit of Christ," 
in whatever denomination. 

The course of lectures and entertainments com- 
menced December 10, with a concert by the 
Germanians — thirteen entertainments for one dol- 
lar. He commenced them later in the season, 
that they might not interfere with other courses 
started in the Island Ward. " Live, and let live," 
being his motto. 

The Christmas Fair, Festival, and Sale, opened 
December 16, the principal feature of which was 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 205 

an antiquarian kitchen, complete in all its ap- 
pointments, from the spinning-wheel and carder 
to the live baby rocked in the cradle of half a 
century ago, and eating from the pewter and 
crockery ware in use from fifty to one hundred 
years before. 

"Tuesday evening a patriotic address was 
made by Rev. W. H. Cudworth, having reference 
to the destruction of the tea in Boston Harbor 
one hundred years ago, and several appropriate 
pieces of music sung by a choir of young ladies 
and gentlemen connected with the society. 

Wednesday evening a fine entertainment was pre- 
sented comprising music, tableaux, and an amusing 
pantomime called 'Jennie and Jamie. ' " 

Thursday evening there was an Old Folks' 
concert, given in costumes, many of which were 
actually worn two and three generations since, 
accompanied by a fine orchestra of amateur 
players on various instruments. 

During this year Mr. Cudworth attended ninety- 
one funerals, only nine of which were connected 
with his society. 



206 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

The New Year's party of 1874 was large and 
enjoyable as usual, and separated shortly after 
ten o'clock, "full of good will to each other 
and the cause common and dear to them all." 

The following was the pleasant estimate of the 
Webster Times of Mr. Cudworth's lecture, " Up 
Hill and Down." 

" The lecture was an eminent success, and by 
far the best of any of the season, and better 
than all of this winter's course put together. It 
was happy, appropriate, effective, and came home 
to every-day life. It was a success simply as a 
humorous lecture, while its moral effect was great 
and good. Let us have Mr. Cudworth again. 
Such lectures are good for the blues, good for 
the panic, good for husbands, wives, parents, 
children, good for narrow-minded people, good 
for the sick, good for everybody. And every 
inhabitant of Webster ought to have heard that 
lecture. We wish Mr. Cudworth might repeat it 
here this winter. He did not give it all — it 
was cut short. Won't you come, Mr. C, and 
give us the whole of it ? " 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 207 

An Old Folks' Concert was given for the 
worthy poor of East Boston, in the Baptist 
Church, at which Mr. Cudworth played the piano. 
He alluded the next Sabbath, in church, to the 
pleasure it gave him to lend his aid, and also 
to the union prayer meeting which had been 
held regardless of evangelical boundary lines. 
"When denominational barriers are thus broken 
down, and Christians of every name are permit- 
ted by their leaders to unite in religious service, 
indications of the millennium's approach are nearer 
and brighter." 

The entertainment in the lecture course Feb- 
ruary 10 was the beautiful operetta of the Flower 
Queen, which was finely rendered by seventy-five 
young girls connected with his Sabbath-school. 
The last entertainment for the season was a con- 
cert by Baldwin's Band, and was, as announced, 
a " grand concert " which was heartily enjoyed 
by the large company present. "This course has 
been highly successful throughout, in the char- 
acter of the entertainments presented, and the 
pastor is entitled to the thanks of the community 



208 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

for placing within the reach of our citizens so 
much rare talent at such a trifling cost to those 
attending." 

The decided convictions of Mr. Cudworth on 
the uplifting rights of woman, were much gratified 
in the organization, March 4, of the East Boston 
Ladies' Home Club, and he was ever its warm 
friend and helper by lecturing, or in any way 
using his influence. 

The winter of his death he was instrumental 
in obtaining the free use of his church for 
a course of lectures. It is but justice to the 
club to say that the variety and intelligence of 
its lectures and entertainments, and the unanimity 
of its action, have justified his predilection, and 
been a credit ( to East Boston. An " Industrial 
School for Women and Girls" was established 
by the club November 17, 1875 which has accom- 
plished much good. 

At a Masonic entertainment in East Boston, 
given March 24, Mr. Cudworth gave his lecture 
on " The 'Art of Doing our Best," " which was 

m 

very highly appreciated and enjoyed." 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 209 

April 12 he preached at the Church of the 
Messiah, New York, on the "Aspiration of Hu- 
manity Towards God." 

May 4 and 5 "Rev. W. H. Cudworth ad- 
dressed large and enthusiastic audiences on the 
subject of Temperance, in Brookline and Peabody." 

May 12, 13 and 14 the sale and festival of 
the Union and Young Ladies' Circle was held 
in the Parish Parlor and Lecture Room of the 
church ; Wednesday afternoon the cantata of the 
"Flower Queen" was given; in the evening the 
" Haymakers," and Thursday evening the drama 
of " Bread on the Waters." 

At the Unitarian festival held in Music Hall, 
May 28, Mr. Cudworth made a short address on 
carrying Religion into our every-day work. 

Memorial Day the dedication services of the 
Soldiers' Monument at Georgetown, Mass., were 
held, and Mr. Cudworth made the address. 

On May 31 he held a memorial service in his 
own church, in honor of the brave soldiers and 
sailors who died for their country. The Grand 
Army Posts of East Boston and Chelsea were 



2IO REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

present, with members of the Burrill Light Guard 
and the Zouaves and Cadets of East Boston. 
Mr. Cudworth, in his address, said, " It was vain 
to think that the debt we owed these noble 
men could be paid by praise, by marble monu- 
ments and statues of bronze, for had it not 
been for them, we to-day should have been 
without a country, but four things we could do. 
We could supply surviving comrades with the 
means of helping the widows and orphans and 
other dependent relatives of those who had laid 
down their lives for us ; we could see to it that 
the interests of education, which had so impor- 
tant a part in securing for us the victory, were 
guarded and promoted more zealously than ever ; 
we could procure for returned soldiers and sail- 
ors, crippled in body or broken down in health, 
the best places Government could confer; we 
could maintain the integrity and defend the purity 
of the ballot box, and secure everywhere genu- 
ine elections. These things done, the republic 
was prepared for whatever dangers might menace 
her in the future. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 211 

June 6 Mr. Cudworth delivered a temperance 
address in Townsend, Mass., and on the eighth, 
one at Grafton. 

June 21 the anniversary of the Sabbath-school 
was celebrated, with reports of continued and in- 
creasing interest. One teacher saying, ; 'no 
scholar absent from her class for the year." 

July 12 he participated in the funeral obse- 
quies of General Cowdin, with whom he had first 
been associated as colonel of the old Massa- 
chusetts First Regiment. 

The August vacation he spent with those of 
his people who could not get away from home, 
preaching for them every Sabbath but the twenty- 
third, on which he preached at Saratoga Springs. 

An evening paper of September 10, reported 
the following : " Rev. W. H. Cudworth addressed 
audiences of two thousand, both forenoon and 
afternoon, on Thursday, at Old Orchard Beach, 
where is being held the first temperance camp 
meeting ever held in the world." 

On the sixteenth he lectured on temperance 
at Quincy. 



212 REV. WARREN H. CUDWbRTH. 

On the twenty-first at Oxford ; twenty-second at 
Everett; twenty-third at East Bridgewater, and on 
the twenty-fourth at Arlington. 

September 27 he preached at the First Uni- 
tarian Church in Lowell. " His subject was 
' Fruit,' and the altar was very appropriately 
decked with a large and beautiful display of 
flowers and fruit. The text was Galatians v. 22 : 
' But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meek- 
ness, temperance.' " 

The patient, and in some cases, loving care 
by which the fruit-grower strives to improve 
the fruit in size, flavor, fragrance, etc., was 
used by the preacher as a type of the care 
which God bestows upon all his children. The 
several " fruits of the Spirit " mentioned in the 
text were then taken up, one by one, and the 
folly or madness of any one who should choose 
their opposites was vividly set forth. All present 
were exhorted to so live as to rejoice the eye 
of God by their fruits as their own senses had 
been pleased by the fruit placed before them. 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 213 

In the evening, at " Huntington Hall, after 
pleasantly alluding to the city as his birthplace, 
he delivered, without notes, a discourse on tem- 
perance. It occupied about an hour, and noth- 
ing could have been lost of his eloquent lec- 
ture through lack of attention. Even those boys 
who. at Sunday evening meetings in this hall, 
cause so much disturbance by going out before 
the service is over, were quiet last evening. 
There has been no more satisfactory presenta- 
tion in this city of the claims of temperance 
for years, and at the close of the lecture the 
speaker was loudly applauded." 

In June he had received a unanimous call 
from the Church of the Messiah, in New York, 
to become its pastor, which he had kept under 
consideration and was now prepared to answer. 

East Boston, Sept. 18, 1874. 
Professor Samuel D. Tillman, Chairman, and others, Mem- 
bers of the Co?nmittee, from the Church of the Messiah, 
New York ; 

Gentlemen: — After long and prayerful consideration of 
your call, dated June 15, to become pastor of the Church 
of the Messiah, at a salary of six thousand dollars a 



214 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

year, I have concluded that my opportunities for Chris- 
tian usefulness are more abundant and promising in Bos- 
ton and vicinity than they would be in New York; and 
hereby most respectfully decline the invitation, hoping that 
God will graciously lead you to the choice of another 
pastor, who, by the blessing of His Providence, may prove 
instrumental in the promotion of your material and spirit- 
ual prosperity. 

Most cordially yours, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 

On the thirtieth inst. he lectured on temper- 
ance at South Natick, and on Thursday after- 
noon, October i, before the Middlesex County 
Temperance Convention, at Waltham. 

October 12 he lectured at East Weymouth; 
on the thirteenth at East Bridgewater, and on 
the fourteenth at Francestown, N. H. ; on the 
eighteenth he preached in the Brookline Town 
Hall. " The attendance was very large, and the 
exercises of a most hearty and earnest character. 
The preacher's remarks were addressed mainly 
to the encouragement of his hearers in their 
purpose of forming a new church." 

October 26 he again lectured on temperance 
at South Weymouth, and in literary courses, on 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 215 

the twenty-eighth at Arlington ; on the twenty-ninth 
at Georgetown, Mass. 

November 9 at South Boston, and the tenth 
at Portsmouth; and on temperance, at Manches- 
ter, on the twelfth, and on the thirteenth at 
Stoneham; on the sixteenth at Grantville, seven- 
teenth at Marlboro, eighteenth at North Dighton, 
nineteenth at South Boston, and twentieth at 
Xewburyport. 

December 1 the Improvement Club gave a con- 
cert in the lecture room of the church, with the 
Alpine Quartette ; on the eighth the usual winter 
course of entertainments commenced, with a con- 
cert by the Ladies' Erminia Quartette , on the 
fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth was held the 
usual Christmas fair, which proved pecuniarily very 
successful j on the twenty-third Mr. Cudworth 
lectured in the hall of the Boston Young Men's 
Christian Union, on the "The Art of doing our 
Best ; " and on the twenty-ninth a fine concert in 
the Unitarian course was given in the lecture 
room, by the Germanians. 

The New Year's party for 1875 was large and 



2l6 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

enjoyable as usual, and the lapse of time since 
their beloved pastor had been theirs was observ- 
able only in the blooming young faces which 
had appeared and matured under their care. 

He was this year elected chaplain of the G. 
A. R. of the Department of Massachusetts. 

January 5 was performed, in the course of 
entertainments, a patriotic drama entitled "En- 
listed for the War ; or, the Home Guard," which 
was much enjoyed. 

Our dear mother who, since the death of our 
step-father, had resided with her daughter, was 
the recipient of a pleasant surprise, January 28, 
in the shape of an elegant parlor-chair, easy-chair 
and rocking-chair combined, which having been 
acknowledged and admired, the party adjourned 
to investigate certain mysterious packages and 
baskets which had also appeared ; and after the 
blessing of God had been invoked by the dear 
son and pastor, a most ample and appetizing 
repast was partaken of, and all present at length 
reached their homes happier for that evening's 
experience. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 217 

February i the " dear pastor " lectured at 
South Hingham ; on the third at Haverhill ; on 
the fourth at Hyannis, and on the tenth at Men- 
don. 

February 2 the celebrated Temple Quartette 
gave one of its enjoyable concerts. 

February 16 the "Juvenile Cantata of New 
Year's Eve " was given, in the course of enter- 
tainments, by sixty young misses connected with 
the Sunday-school, and was so much enjoyed that 
it was repeated the next evening. 

March 2 a grand concert was given by 
Brown's Brigade Band, to close the course, and 
two supplementary entertainments were also given 
of readings and music. 

March 29 Mr. Cudworth lectured in a lyceum 
course at Rye, N. H., and on the thirty-first in 
the Dorchester District, Mass. 

The Ladies' Home Club held a meeting April 
15, at which Mr. Cudworth spoke on the es- 
tablishment of a high school in East Boston. 

The patriotic blood of our "War Chaplain" 
was again exercised on the centennial of the 



2l8 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

first blood shed in the country's war for inde- 
pendence, April 19, 1775, an d he held appropri- 
ate services in his church on the eve of the 
great day, 1875. On the platform were seated 
thirteen young ladies, representing the thirteen 
original States. The military organizations present 
were Company D. Fourth Battalion, Captain Henry 
Parkinson, Jr. ; the East Boston Cadets, Major 
Whitten; Joe Hooker Post 23, G. A. R., J. C. 
Littlefield Commander; the Independent Boston 
Fusileers, Captain Henry A. Snow, and the East 
Boston Cornet Band. The services were opened 
by a voluntary on the organ, after which Kel- 
ler's American Hymn was most acceptably played 
by the band. 

The entire audience then sang a patriotic hymn 
to "America," which was followed by a Scriptu- 
ral service, the pastor and the thirteen young 
ladies alternating in the responses. The follow- 
ing hymn was then sung, accompanied by the 
organ and the cornet of Mr. E. T. Bates, the 
excellent leader of the East Boston Cornet 
Band: 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 219 

Gone are those great and good 
Who here, in peril, stood 
And raised their hymn. 
Peace to the reverend dead ! 
The light that on their head 
The passing years have shed, 
Shall ne'er grow dim. 

An impressive prayer was then offered, to 
which the band responded, and " Rev. W. H. 
Cudworth delivered a discourse from Galatians 
v. 13: 'Called unto liberty,' and he commenced 
by saying 'that our Revolutionary sires were called 
unto liberty, as surely as they were called into 
being,' which principle he followed through its 
varying fortunes, till Liberty untrammelled was the 
rule of the land. The address was followed by 
the hymn commencing, 

Who, when darkness gathered o'er us, 
Foes and death on every side, 
Clothed in glory walked before us, 
Leading on, like Israel's guide ? 
'Twas Jehovah ! He, appearing, 
Showed his banner far and wide." 

At the conclusion of the singing, " Paul Re- 
vere's Ride " was recited by H. H. Lincoln, 



22 O REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Esq., principal of the Lyman School, to the 
apparent gratification of the assembly. Another 
patriotic piece was performed by the band, and 
after the entire congregation had joined in singing 
— " From all that Dwell below the Skies," accom- 
panied by the band and full organ with thrilling 
effect, a stirring benediction closed the services 
and the audience dispersed. The scene within 
the house during the exercises, was one of the 
finest ever witnessed in East Boston. Not only 
was every available seat taken, but hundreds 
were standing ; the. white dresses and red, white 
and blue sashes worn by the young ladies, the 
flags, bunting and other decorations with which 
the church had been adorned by the members 
of the G. A. R., the brilliancy of the uniforms, 
the novelty of martial music in a church, the 
countenances of the spectators and listeners, fired 
with enthusiasm, all conspired to make the oc- 
casion one long to be remembered. 

April 20 Mr. Cudworth delivered his lecture 
"Up Hill and Down," before Phoenix Temple of 
Honor. The Salem Gazette, in April, said : " Rev. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 221 

W. H. Cudworth filled the pulpit some months 
since for the Rev. T. R. Beecher, in the old 
South Church, and it is probably the only in- 
stance in which a minister of that persuasion 
ever filled that desk. His discourse seemed to 
meet with the highest approbation from the people 
of the society. The past year seemed to have 
been one of the most prosperous for his society, 
financially. The total receipts were $6,016.58, 
the expenditures $5,471.16, leaving in the treasury 

$545-42." 

In May the following appeared in the local 
paper: "Rev. W. H. Cudworth has the honor 
of taking the first share of Centennial stock sold 
in East Boston." 

May 4, 5 and 6 the Semi-Annual Festival and 
Sale was held in the Parish Parlor and Lecture 
Room, and proved quite profitable. Tuesday even- 
ing a spelling match was held ; Wednesday after- 
noon an exhibition of ventriloquism was given ; 
in the evening the juvenile cantata of New 
Year's Eve was again rendered, and Thursday 
evening there was a dramatic exhibition. On the 



22 2 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

sixteenth Mr. Cudworth delivered a temperance 
address in the Seamen's Bethel, on Hanover 
street. 

His fiftieth birthday was celebrated on the 
twenty-third, in the most happy manner. A superb 
turkey morocco copy of Gustave Dore's costly 
illustrated Bible, in two large quarto volumes, was 
presented him from his parishioners, by Judge 
Pond, after which two young misses brought for- 
ward two beautiful floral gifts ; one, a basket of 
fragrant white pinks fringed with roses and smilax, 
and crested with the figures fifty, in blue violets, 
and the other a large bouquet of fifty half-opened 
roses of different colors and varieties. Mr. Cud- 
worth responded very warmly and gratefully to 
the donors, and after invoking God's blessing, 
invited all present to partake of the choice and 
bountiful collation which had been furnished by 
the ladies, after which the happy company sep- 
arated for their homes. 

On the twenty-fifth he spoke on temperance, 
with ex-Governor Talbot, at North Billerica ; ad- 
dressed the Sunday-school society in Bulfinch Street 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 223 

Church on the twenty-sixth, in aid of the Children's 
Mission on the twenty-seventh, and on the twenty- 
eighth gave an address at the annual meeting 
of the Massachusetts Total Abstinence Society, 
at Tremont Temple, on the topic "The Church, 
the Sunday-school, and the Common School/' On 
Memorial Day he delivered the oration at Danvers. 
The following still further illustrates the strength 
of his patriotism : 

East Boston, May 17, 1875. 
To the Officers and Members of the East Boston Trade Association : 
Gentlemen : — Pardon me if this communication seems 
intrusive, but I cannot help feeling extremely desirous that 
some public notice should be taken of Thursday, May 27, 
when, in this very place, one hundred years ago, a pro- 
longed and sanguinary engagement occurred between the 
Provincials under command of General Putnam, and the 
British forces then in possession of Boston. It would be 
a credit to your body, and grateful to many of our citizens, 
if commemorative services of some sort might be held 
under your official supervision, in honor of this important 
event in East Boston history. 

Very respectfully your fellow citizen, 

Warren H. Cudworth. 

This was favorably received, and a committee 
appointed, consisting of Messrs. Hill, Bowker, 



224 REV - WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Barnes, Foss, and Walsh, 10 make all arrange- 
ments. Had more time been given for prepara- 
tion, the celebration would have been more de- 
monstrative. As it was, the evening only was 
celebrated. Lyceum Hall was secured, with music 
by the East Boston Cornet Band; singing by 
select pupils of the four Grammar Schools of the 
Island Ward ; oration by Rev. W. H. Cudworth ; 
Rev. A. McKeown, D. D., pastor of the Saratoga 
Street Church, was chaplain of the evening , H. 
H. Lincoln, Esq., poet and reader. "About eight 
o'clock the Burrill Light Guard, Captain Warner, 
of the First Regiment, the Maverick Rifles (for- 
merly City Guards), Company D., Fourth Bat- 
talion, Captain Henry Parkinson, Jr., and Post 
23 G. A. R., J. Littleneld Commander, took their 
seats in the hall. The exercises commenced by 
the East Boston Cornet Band playing ' Rally 
Round the Flag.' Then followed the 'Song of 
the Fatherland,' by a choir of eighty young ladies 
from the Grammar Schools, F. F. Preble, leader. 
Next in order were battle songs by the band, 
arranged by E. T. Bates, leader. H. H. Lincoln, 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 225 

Esq., then read, in excellent taste, Oliver Wen- 
dell Holmes' ' Centennial Ode.' The choir sang 
the ' Star Spangled Banner,' and the chaplain 
followed by an eloquent prayer. The audience 
then rose and joined with the choir in singing 
the ' East Boston Centennial Ode,' by the poet 
of the evening. The band then gave finely, 
1 Keller's American Hymn,' which was followed 
by the excellent address of Mr. Cudworth, in 
which the history of the day was embodied." 
The exercises were closed by the choir singing 
"Our Native Land," and by the benediction, the 
band closing with " Hail Columbia, Happy Land." 
" During the day many decorations were observed 
about the Island, and much interest manifested. 
In the evening fireworks were liberally displayed, 
and the day closed upon a most creditable cele- 
bration. The balance of money in the hands of 
the committee — eleven dollars and seventy-five cents 
— it was unanimously voted on motion of Mr. 
Bowker, should be put in some savings bank on 
compound interest. This will be a great relief to 
the committee on celebration in 1975. 



226 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

The committee concluded their arduous labors 
by expressing the great obligations they felt to 
Rev. W. H. Cudworth, H. H. Lincoln, Esq., Dr. 
Campbell, F. F. Preble, Esq., Rev. Andrew 
McKeown, the pupils of the Grammar Schools, 
and the East Boston Cornet Band. 

"A large and very interesting temperance 
meeting was held in the Unitarian Church last 
Sunday evening, Rev. W. H. Cudworth presiding. 
The meeting was held under the auspices of the 
East Boston Branch of the Massachusetts Total 
Abstinence Society, Addresses were made by 
Rev. G. R. W. Scott of Chambers Street Church, 
and Rev. A. J. Patterson of Boston Highlands. 
Mr. Holt, the secretary of the society, reported 
ninety-five members belonging, and that about 
three hundred have signed the pledge during the 
year of its existence." 

The Sabbath-school Anniversary was observed 
with its usual interest on June 27. 

July 3 Mr. Cudworth spoke on temperance at 
Montague ; on the fourth at Bridgewater, and on 
the fifth at Lake Walden. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 



227 



At the Annual Meeting of the Unitarian Sun- 
day-school Society, held October 12, he spoke 
upon " The Place and Value of Object Teaching 
in Religious Culture." 

The autumn meeting of the Barnstable County 
Conference was held in Sandwich, October 24. 
"The church was crowded, and the sermon by 
Rev. W. H. Cudworth, of East Boston, was re- 
ceived with enthusiastic admiration. He was lis- 
tened to attentively for more than an hour, his 
subject furnishing the deepest experience of life." 

November 8 he lectured in Boston, in Rev. 
Dr. Eddy's Tabernacle Course : on the ninth at 
Andover, on the tenth at North Reading, and 
on the eleventh at Lexington. 

The Misses Aid Society, connected with his 
Sunday-school, gave a pleasant little fair and 
festival, for its benefit, on the seventeenth, with 
an entertainment of music, recitations, etc. 

November 28 he presided at the first of a series 
of semi-monthly Sunday evening sermons, es- 
pecially in the interest of " Phcenix Temple of 
Honor, and Mr. Walter Babb, Past Grand 



228 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

Worthy Templar of Massachusetts, gave a brief 
address on the objects, merits and advantages 
of the Temple of Honor." 

The Annual Holiday Fair and Festival opened 
December 7, and continued three days, with en- 
tertainments of music, recitations and tableaux. 

The course of entertainments for the winter 
commenced December 14, with a concert by 
Brown's Brigade Band. During the year 1875 
Mr. Cudworth attended one hundred and twelve 
funerals. 

The Centennial New Year being ushered in 
with very fine weather, the attendance at the 
evening party was more numerous than ever be- 
fore, and the most cordial feeling was manifes- 
ted by all. Mr. Cudworth was personally con- 
gratulated by every one on the success which 
had crowned his labors as pastor of the society. 

January 4 a fine concert was given in the 
winter's course by the Swedish Quartette. 

January 10 Mr. Cudworth lectured in the Town 
Hall, Winthrop j on the twelfth at Allston, and 
on the twenty-first at Milford. 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 229 

February 8 one of the enjoyable concerts of 
the Temple Quartette was given in the lecture 
room course; February 15 the drama of "Old 
Honesty " was given, and on the twenty-second 
the juvenile cantata of " An Hour in Fairy Land," 
and repeated on the twenty-third. 

The semi-centennial celebration of the city of 
Lowell, the birthplace of the subject of our 
memorial, took place March 1, at which he de- 
livered the morning address. 

The last entertainment of the winter's course 
was a concert by the Germanians, March 7. 

April 13 Mr. Cudworth delivered an exceed- 
ingly interesting " Centennial Fast Day Dis- 
course," on the wonderful growth of our country, 
from the text 2 Chronicles xx. 20: "Believe in 
the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; 
believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper ; " on 
the twenty-third and thirtieth he preached at 
the Unitarian Church in Washington, D. C. 

The Centennial Spring Fair and Festival took 
place May 1, 2 and 3. The entertainments con- 
sisted of, May 1, a patriotic concert of national 



230 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

airs, songs and choruses, where the various 
nations were welcomed to the Centennial hospi- 
tality of the flag, and were represented with 
song and chorus in costume, closing with the 
" Star Spangled Banner," with song, chorus and 
grand tableaux of the Goddess of Liberty. On 
the second there was a dramatic and musical 
entertainment, and Wednesday afternoon a joy- 
ous time of games, etc., was extemporized for 
the children. In the evening the pleasing oper- 
etta, " An Hour in Fairy Land," was performed. 
During this month a temperance meeting was 
held in Sumner Hall, in sympathy with Dr. 
Reynold's plan of action, " at which Mr. Cud- 
worth spoke in his usual interesting and im- 
pressive manner." 

His birthday party on this Centennial year 
was most happy. During the interchange of 
hearty congratulations, a handsome handkerchief 
box was presented, also a beautiful wrought 
motto, "The Rock of Ages," a bust of the late 
Governor Andrew, and a generous remembrance 
from Chicago. Judge Pond on being introduced 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 23 1 

said : " As hard work had been the characteris- 
tic virtue of their pastor, rest was essential," and 
in behalf of the ladies of the society presented 
a luxurious easy chair. Before closing, a purse 
of money was presented. A quartette choir was 
introduced and sung an original Birthday Ode, 
"composed by J, ^- Turner, Esq., and respect- 
fully dedicated to Rev. W. H. Cudworth." Dur- 
ing the singing of the third stanza, commencing, 

Now bring the floral offering, 
two young misses of the congregation advanced, 
bearing a beautiful floral tribute, composed of a 
large bank of roses, on which rested a harp of 
flowers. On either side of the harp, on the 
bank, in white pinks, were the initials " W. H. 
C." and the figures "51." At the conclusion 
of the ode, Rev. Mr. Cudworth, with the fra- 
grant gift still in his hands, attempted, and 
finally succeeded, in expressing his gratitude to 
his people for their kind consideration, and the 
numerous expressions of their attachment. The 
good things upon the tables were then partaken 
of, and a most delightful occasion came to a close. 



232 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

May 25 the following appeared in one of the 
papers of the day : " At the earnest request of 
ladies present at a lecture delivered last Thurs- 
day afternoon before the Physiological Institute, 
Rev. Mr. Cudworth has consented to repeat it 
in Wesleyan Hall, next Thursday afternoon, at 
three o'clock. This lecture, 'Mrs. Grundy with 
Her large Family,' is one of the most popular 
in the reverend gentleman's repertoire, and will 
undoubtedly attract a large audience." 

The following also appeared : " Rev. W. H. 
Cudworth lectured in Medford on temperance, 
last Wednesday evening, to a crowded audience. 
He delivers the oration on Decoration Day be- 
fore the Charles Sumner Post of Groveland, at 
ten-fifteen a. m., and also before Post Number 
112 of South Scituate, at five p. m." 

The East Boston Dare to do Right Temper- 
ance Club was organized this year, and Mr. 
Cudworth chosen president. It did much good 
before its final demise from many untoward cir- 
cumstances. 

The picnic of the Sunday-school and society 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 233 

was held this year at Melville Garden, Downer 
Landing, June 13. 

The Sabbath-school Anniversary was held on the 
twenty-fifth, opening with the christening of twenty- 
nine children. The reports indicated the school 
in its usual flourishing condition, and interesting 
addresses were made by B. F. Tweed, Esq., and 
Benjamin R. Jewell, Esq. In the evening the 
services were continued by singing, recitations 
and other exercises, in which the pupils took the 
principal part. 

June 29 the Centennial production entitled 
" One Hundred Years Ago ; or, Our Boys of 
1776," was presented in the lecture room, in 
honor and commemoration of the Centennial Year, 
closing with military tableaux. 

July 16 he preached to the Dare to do Right 
Club — having been invited to his church for the 
purpose — from the Parable of the Good Samaritan. 
In the evening he preached the first of his course 
of eight Sunday evening lectures in the Hall cf 
the Young Men's Christian Union, concluding 
September 10. 



234 REV - WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

In July the Unitarian Church at Washington, 
D. C, urgently solicited Mr. Cudworth to preach 
for them for one year, but the standing com- 
mittee of his church were unanimous in their 
conviction that the loss to this society could not 
be equalled by the permanent good accruing to 
theirs ; July 30 he preached at Hingham. Two 
stirring temperance meetings were held in East 
Boston during the month of August, at which 
he demonstrated his untiring zeal in the good 
cause. 

October 30 he lectured in Revere Town Hall 
on "Mrs. Grundy." 

November 9 the hall provided for the Dare 
to do Right Club, by the Ladies' Christian Tem- 
perance Union, was dedicated, and a social time 
enjoyed, with addresses from Mr. Cudworth, Rev. 
Mr. Mansfield and others ; on the sixth he lec- 
tured in Taunton ; and on the twentieth at the 
Bennington Street Chapel, for the benefit of that 
society. 

The Centennial Fall Fair and Festival was 
held December 5, 6, and 7, and on the evening 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 235 

of the fifth there was a fine stereopticon exhibi- 
tion of some of the best views at the great 
National Exposition; Wednesday afternoon a mis- 
cellaneous entertainment for the children ; in the 
evening a dramatic and musical performance, and 
on Thursday evening an exhibition of tableaux. 
The course of entertainments for the winter 
commenced December 12, with the drama of 
"Dot," performed by home talent, and much en- 
joyed. 

A Card : — The Dare to do Right Club return their 
thanks to the Rev W. H. Cudworth for his donation of a 
copy of the Holy Bible. 

January 9, 1877, another fine concert was 
given in the lecture room, and on the sixteenth 
Hon. George B. Loring lectured on " Thomas Jef- 
ferson and Abraham Lincoln." 

The first Sunday in March — Communion Sun- 
day — fifteen persons were welcomed to the church. 

Services commemorative of the twenty-fifth an- 
niversary of the settlement of Mr. Cudworth in 
East Boston were held on the seventeenth, eight- 
eenth, and nineteenth, on the seventeenth morn- 



236 REV WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

ing worship was held in the church, by the 
pastor, upon "Our Rations and Duties to God." 
An evening gathering took place in the parish 
parlor, of Sunday-school teachers and all inter- 
ested in the church conference meetings, with 
singing, prayers, and "remarks on God's word 
and the power of prayer." 

Sunday, March 18, he preached his twenty- 
fifth anniversary discourse, subject, "Association, 
Unity, Progress, Perfection," from the text He- 
brews vi. 1 : — Let us go on unto perfection." 
In concluding he said, " During the twenty-five 
years of my ministry, one thousand and thirty- 
three funerals have been attended, seven hun- 
dred and twenty-three children christened, one 
hundred and eighty-seven adults baptized, five 
hundred and eigty-seven marriages solemnized, 
and three hundred and fifty-one persons wel- 
comed to the fellowship of the Church. With 
such fruits to show as the results of associated, 
united, and progressive labor in the Gospel cause, 
we certainly have every reason to exhort one 
another. ' Let us go on unto perfection.' " 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 237 

In the afternoon he welcomed the teachers, 
officers, pupils, and past superintendents of the 
Sunday-school to their participation in the festival 
exercises of the day, and very interesting remarks 
were made by Judge S. B. Hahn, Judge Ben- 
jamin Pond, T. L. Manson, Esq., and the super- 
intendent. Sunday evening a service was held in 
" Memory and Honor of the Dead formerly con- 
nected with the Society, the First Massachusetts 
Infantry Veteran Regiment, and Mount Tabor 
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. Some very- 
fine vocal music was rendered, and consolatory 
addresses made by Rev. Mr. Cudworth, Rev. S. 
H. Winkley, and Rev. W. P. Tilden of Boston." 
" The floral decorations of the church were in 
exceeding good taste, and delighted all behold- 
ers/' 

Monday, forenoon Mr. Cudworth preached an 
interesting sermon in the church on " Our Rela- 
tions and Duties to Mankind," from Galatians 
vi. 10: — "As we have therefore opportunity let 
us do good unto all men, especially unto them 
who are of the household of faith." The com- 



238 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

memorative services concluded with a social gath- 
ering in the evening, "of all past and present 
members of the church and society, in the lec- 
ture room and parish parlor. Addresses were 
made by Rev. Dr. H. A. Miles of Hingham, 
Rev. F. W. Holland of Cambridge, Rev. C. F. 
Barnard of Charlestown and Rev. L. J. Livermore, 
former pastor of the society, all of whom were 
present at the installation of Mr. Cudworth 
twenty-five years ago, and had much to say of 
the progress and prosperity of the society. Mr. 
Cudworth was then . called upon and disclaimed 
the credit he had so liberally received, saying 
that without the assistance of his church and 
society, he could not have succeeded. The par- 
ish then, through Mr. Lincoln, presented their 
pastor with a silver salver filled to Scripture 
measure with silver coin to the amount of two 
hundred and fifty-three dollars. Miss J. W. 
Fettyplace of Chicago, formerly a parishioner of 
Mr. Cudworth, sent her pastor twenty-five silver 
dollars of the coinage of 1877. Then followed 
letters of remembrance, flowers, etc., and the 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 239 

happy occasion was concluded with the excellent 
collation prepared ; on the twentieth Mr. Cud- 
worth addressed the East Boston Total Absti- 
nence Society, at their hall, 152 Meridian street. 

April 8 he discoursed to a large audience at 
the Opera House, in Hartford, Conn., on the 
subject, " Is Unitarianism Christianity ? " 

" At the annual church meeting held the last 
of April a request was received from the pastor 
that five hundred dollars be taken from his sal- 
ary, and the pew rents lowered, on account of 
hard times, which was received and unanimously 
approved.' 

May 13 he preached upon " Special Baptisms." 
"Jesus baptized with the Holy Ghost and with 
fire, and the success of his early followers is 
incredible and unaccountable except upon Gospel 
grounds. Gospel baptism was meant to be a 
fire on earth to burn up and destroy -all the 
cancerous iniquities of mankind. The churches 
ought to be thronged now with such consecra- 
ted, strong, determined natures as that of Bishop 
Latimer, Modern preaching will never overcome 



240 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

the war spirit, the rum fiend, worldliness and 
lust until it receives a fresh unction from the 
Holy one , until it is baptized with the Holy 
Ghost and with fire." 

The spring fair and festival was held May 21, 
22, and 23. On the twenty-first a musical drama 
was performed. On the twenty-second an ex- 
tremely pretty operetta entitled '• Maud Irving," 
was given by about fifty members of the Sunday- 
school, under the direction of Mr. Cudworth, 
who was pianist, and was received with so much 
favor that it was repeated Wednesday afternoon 
to the largest collection of young folks ever con- 
vened in the lecture room for an entertain- 
ment. 

In the evening the society met in the lecture 
room to celebrate the fifty-second anniversary of 
their pastor's birthday. Among the invited guests 
were the Massachusetts First Infantry Veteran 
Association, the field and staff of the First Bat- 
talion M. V. M., who appeared in full uniform, 
Mount Tabor Lodge of F. and A. Masons, and 
Eastern Star Lodge of Odd Fellows. Hon. Henry 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 241 

B. Hill, moderator of the society, called the 
meeting to order, and introduced Mr. Hiram H. 
Logan, who, in a neat speech, presented Mr. 
Cudworth with an elegant silver pitcher and 
salver, two goblets and bowl, lined with gold , 
a gift from the young men of the society. Mr. 
Cudworth replied, expressing his gratification not 
only at the gift, but for the motive which 
prompted it. He was also presented with other 
articles by individual members of his society. 
Mrs. Sylvanus Cobb read a poem which she 
had composed expressly for the occasion, and 
which was very happily expressed and warmly 
received. A feast of good things followed, and 
then another notable occasion was numbered 
with the past." 

May 27 a Memorial service was held in the 
church, at which the usual military organizations 
were present, "and young ladies from the Sunday- 
school, attired to represent the States, sang 
sweetly." 

The Sunday-school anniversary was held as 
usual and the superintendent reported an unusual 



242 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

religious interest, eighteen of the scholars having 
joined the church. 

June 3 the pastor preached upon " Union and 
Liberty among Christians of all Persuasions," re- 
joicing over the recent message of the Unitarian 
Congregationalists, sent from Music Hall to the 
Trinitarian Congregationalists in Faneuil Hall, 
and rejoicing still more over the hearty enthu- 
siasm of their answer. 

The following appeared in an evening paper 
of July 14 : " Rev. W. H. Cudworth has been 
appointed City Chaplain on the occasion of the 
dedication of the Army and Navy Monument on 
the seventeenth of September." 

July 16 he delivered a temperance address at 
the Seamen's Bethel, Hanover Street. 

July 1 he commenced his Summer Course of 
Sunday evening Lectures, at the Hall of the 
Young Men's Christian Union, 18 Boylston Street, 
concluding September 2. 

September 13 "A temperance meeting, under 
the auspices of the Reynolds Club, was held in 
the lecture room of the Unitarian Church. The 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 243 

president of the club, Mr. J. S. Hamblin, intro- 
duced Rev. Mr. Cudworth as the speaker of 
the evening, and it was one of that gentleman's 
happiest efforts." 

The dedication of the Army and Navy Mon- 
ument took place on the seventeenth with a 
most imposing display, East Boston having twelve 
distinct organizations in line. 

The Christmas fair and festival was held 
December 12 and 13, with lecture and readings 
for the entertainments. 

The winter's course of entertainments com- 
menced December 18, with a concert by the 
Germanians ; on the twenty-eighth Mr. Cudworth 
lectured in the Methodist Church at Mattapan. 

Another of the dear " War Letters " has been 
found, which is inserted here. 

Camp at Brandy Station, Mar. 15, 1864. 
My Dear People: — Besides sending between two and 
three hundred letters to society and Sunday-school since I 
took leave of you in June, 1861, I have received between 
eleven and twelve hundred from fifty-two different writers 
connected with our society, and my whole correspondence 
has amounted to at least two letters a day received and 



244 REV - WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

answered, making nearly two thousand from about one 
hundred different correspondents. Moreover, having had 
charge of the mail, all the letters of the regiment com- 
ing and going, have passed through my hands, amounting 
to between one hundred and forty and one hundred and 
fifty thousand, besides books, magazines, pamphlets, and 
newspapers. All this intelligence, and its transmission, 
has required much patience, and this brings me to the 
thought for my present letter. There is an element of 
impatience about human nature amid the stir and excite- 
ments of an age rife with startling events and radical 
transformations — an age like ours, which needs if not 
rebuke, instruction. How long the world had to wait for 
common cotton cloth ! Suppose I wished for a piece, 
and the mills were all destroyed. How long the time, 
how tedious the process before my wishes could be grat- 
ified. I should have first to plant the seed, cultivate, 
harvest, secure the crop, and separate the fibre of the 
raw material. Then I must resort to the maker of Tur- 
bine wheels, to the stone mason and bricklayer, to the 
draughtsman and machinist, setting them all busily to 
work, and waiting until their work was done. Then my 
carders, spinners, dressers and weavers engaged, I first 
force the unbaled cotton into swift revolving pickers, 
where it is torn and rent into light fleecy clouds, and de- 
prived of the dust accumulated during its putting up, 
storing, or transportation. Introduced to the carding ma- 
chine, it comes out upon the wiry comb, regular, even, 
clean, and ready for the first spinning. The second spin- 
ning produces a small, tense thread, the material of the 
dressing room. Here, how much caution must be observed, 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 245 

and what closeness, what delicacy and accuracy of manip- 
ulation, before the starched and stiffened threads can be sub- 
jected to the noisy thump of the weaver's reel, or the nicely 
poised tension of his loom ; and through all these intricate 
and complicated processes, how many and multiform the 
particulars, to which I can only advert, costing the world's 
most ingenious sons generations of study and experiment. 
At last I begin to see some cloth, but I have been com- 
pelled to wait long and patiently. 

Shall we be patient for material things, and complain 
that the web of individual or national destiny moves too 
slowly through the loom of time ? Shall we watch con- 
tentedly the weaver's shuttle, which, with fast-decreasing 
thread hies to and fro, yet chide the hours and days of 
life for slowness, or read their lesson disappointedly? 
Shall we commend the genius, the industry and skill of 
man who clothes our perishable bodies, and arraign or 
doubt the wisdom, power or goodness of God who over- 
sees, overrules, and controls all the events concerning our 
immortal souls ? Let us be patient — patient for ourselves, 
patient with our leaders and rulers, patient for our coun- 
try. Patient if we fail and suffer as if we succeed and 
triumph ; when we lose as when we win, when we retreat 
as when we advance, when we wait as when we start — 

For right is right, since God is God; 
And right the day must win : 
To doubt would be disloyalty, 
To falter would be sin. 
Your affectionate pastor, and sincere friend, 

W. H. CUDWORTH. 



246 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

January, 1878, the large Christian heart of 
Mr. Cudworth, which had always made him 
the friend of the lowly or unfortunate, had 
prompted the wish that he might preach in a free 
church, where none need be debarred from com- 
ing by high rents. This year, the following item 
will show, he was enabled to carry out that 
wish : " The Rev. W. H. Cudworth has taken a 
mortgage for eighteen thousand dollars on the 
Unitarian Church, at a lower rate of interest 
than was paid before, and proposes, with the 
consent of the pew owners, to assume the entire 
obligation of conducting the society, provided the 
property holders will consent to making the 
church free." 

On the twenty-fifth a vocal and instrumental 
concert was given in the winter's course of en- 
tertainments, by the Weber Quartette. 

"February 12 his society met to consider the 
proposition of their pastor, and after some re- 
marks it was unanimously accepted, to take effect 
from the first of May next, and to remain in 
force one year. Mr. Cudworth is not only the 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 247 

pastor of this society, but is claimed by outsid- 
ers who never attend any place of worship. In 
sickness and death his services are sought, and 
to his everlasting credit be it stated, are never 
denied. More than once he has said good words 
over the bodies of men in death, who were his 
revilers in life. Like all other independent men, 
he has opinions on the great questions of the 
day, and has never been backward in giving 
them expression, which has made enemies as well 
as friends; but he is this day unquestionably as 
much beloved as any minister in East Boston. 
On the books of his Sunday-school there are 
about six hundred teachers and pupils, all de- 
votedly attached to Mr. Cudworth, who is the 
superintendent of the school. It is here where 
his great work is most manifest. From the 
school the ranks of the church are filled, as the 
aged pass to their long home. His three years' 
service in the field during the war, his bold 
utterances in favor of freedom, his advocacy of 
temperance, education, woman suffrage, and other 
subjects are well known to the public. But the 



248 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

most marvellous part of his ministry is the tact 
with which he keeps his society together, com- 
posed as it is of men of all creeds. There are 
very few, if any, radical Unitarians in it — those 
who have doubts of the divinity of our Lord ; 
and though a wide range of thought is expressed 
at the prayer and conference meetings by those 
who take part in them, there is very little fric- 
tion." 

February 19 another enjoyable concert was 
listened to by the many frequenters of the Uni- 
tarian course, from the Boston Cadet Band. 

The spring fair and festival was held May 7, 
8, and 9. On the evening of the seventh "A 
Juvenile Oratorio of the Festival of the Rose " 
was performed by about fifty young misses con- 
nected with the Sunday-school; on the eighth, 
fine readings were listened to from George B. 
Ford, Esq., and on the ninth a dramatic per- 
formance was given, on the fifteenth the oper- 
etta of " Maud Irving " was again given, for the 
benefit of the Sunday-school, and the concert on 
Sunday evening was very interesting and efTec- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 249 

five. An address was given by Mr. Cudworth, 
after which two impressive floral pieces, the first 
" A Godly Life," and the last, " Cross and 
Crown," gave much satisfaction to the attentive 
congregation present. 

On the twenty-fifth the Boston Fusileers opened 
their armory for the seventeenth anniversary of 
the First Massachusetts Regiment, and the hearty 
cheering given for "Holy Joe" — a sobriquet 
given their chaplain — as he entered, was very 
pleasing. 

Memorial services were held in his church on 
the evening of the twenty-sixth, and on Decora- 
tion Day he was chaplain in the morning at the 
oration of Hon. George B= Loring in his own 
church ; in the afternoon delivered the oration 
before the Wm. H. Shove Post No. 132 of Pea- 
body, and at eight p. m. was orator for the 
Grand Army boys in West Newbury, Mass. 

" His adaptation to the needs of the human 
nature with which we have to deal " was again 
verified by his success in his Summer Course of 
Sunday evening Sermons at the Union Hall, 



250 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Boylston street. The course commenced June 30, 
and closed September 1. In addition to this the 
following was on his programme for the summer : 
" Rev. W. H. Cudworth will (by request) preach 
every pleasant Sunday afternoon during the month 
of August, in the Clifton House Grove, Clifton, 
at three o'clock." 

During the vacation he also attended to the 
painting and frescoing of his church, also having 
the means of ventilation improved, the church 
worshiping in the lecture room during the time. 

" The Worcester Unitarian Sunday-school Soci- 
ety " held its session at Grafton, at which Mr. 
Cudworth delivered an essay upon " One of the 
Secrets of Sunday-school Success." '* The essay 
was one 01 solid Christian thought and wise 
counsel to all engaged in the work of the Sun- 
day-school, and listened to throughout with wrapt 
attention, and at the close of the meeting a 
vote of thanks was passed to Rev. W. H. Cud- 
worth for his most excellent and interesting 
essay." 

The Christmas fair and festival was held Dec- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 25 1 

ember 3, 4 and 5. On the third there was a 
dramatic and musical entertainment; on the fourth 
a vocal and instrumental concert, and on the 
fifth a lecture on the Thespian art, by Mr. 
William A. Lewis. 

The course of entertainments for the winter 
commenced December 17 with a dramatic and 
musical entertainment ; on the thirty-first Hon. 
Carroll D. Wright lectured in the course upon 
" Communism," and it was considered an ex- 
tremely able effort. 

January 1, 1879, tne usua l New Year's party 
was held in the lecture room. " Hon. Henry B. 
Hill, moderator of the parish, introduced the 
pastor, who said in substance, that a year ago 
he proposed to make the church free. Thus far 
he had been as well supported as he had reason 
to expect, considering the general depression of 
business. All bills had been promptly met, and 
the attendance had been more numerous than 
ever before. After wishing all a happy New 
Year! he invoked the Divine blessing, and the 
company partook of an excellent repast, provided 



2^2 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

by the ladies of the society. Between ten and 
eleven o'clock the company separated. Mr. Cud- 
worth has been pastor of this society over twenty- 
six years ; has officiated at over eleven hundred 
funerals ; and made some seven hundred ad- 
dresses on temperance. He is still in the enjoy- 
ment of a vigorous manhood." 

February 25 the Ladies' Union Quartette gave 
one of the most attractive concerts of the series 
of entertainments, and "During the evening Mr. 
Cudworth — who was ever on the alert to make 
his meetings interesting — announced that during 
the month of March, the ladies composing the 
Union Quartette, would sing at the regular Sun- 
day evening service." 

February 16 a most interesting vesper service 
was held in the church. It was Mr. Cudworth's 
pleasant habit to stand in the vestibule, and 
welcome all who came to his church with a 
cordial grasp of the hand, and a few kind 
words or wishes, which to many were very grate- 
ful. Sometimes he had a helper who passed to 
every one a beautiful poem. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 253 

March 25 a condensed statement, which was 
very gratifying, of the missionary work done dur- 
ing the past nine years, was presented by Miss 
Susan C. Damon, in her annual report. It is 
but justice to state here that the generosity of 
King's Chapel Society, through Miss Damon, has 
enabled her to do much more good than she 
otherwise could. 

The sewing school connected with the Mission, 
and which met in the parish parlor every Satur- 
day afternoon from October to July, was particu- 
larly pleasant to Mr. Cudvvorth, whose love for 
children was gratified by seeing them made so 
useful and happy. 

April 9 another beautiful juvenile oratorio, 
called the " Indian Summer," was given by the 
sweet singers in his charge. " Easter morning the 
altar and platform of the Unitarian Church were 
tastefully arranged in a profusion of choice 
flowers, prominent among which were Easter lilies, 
adorning on the right a large cross, composed 
mostly of roses, smilax and evergreen, and on 
the left, a pyramid surmounted by the christen- 



254 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

ing font ; while in the centre, fronting the 
pulpit, and on either side as if springing from 
the base of the pillars, were thrifty and beauti- 
ful house plants in full bloom. In the evening 
all the flowers were arranged upon and around 
an immense cross, eight feet high, bearing in 
front the words 'Jesus,' and 'Resurrection,' in 
monogramic form, while the pediment where the 
young speakers laid their floral offerings was 
one mass of evergreen and moss, representing 
the ' Rock of Ages.' " 

" The ladies of the Christian Temperance Union 
expressed their grateful acknowledgment to Mr. 
Cudworth for his kind invitation to them to use 
the parish parlor of the Unitarian Church for 
their meetings." 

At the annual meeting of the society it was 
unanimously voted " that Rev. Mr. Cudworth, 
pastor of the Unitarian Church of East 'Boston, 
has managed its affairs to the unqualified satis- 
faction of the society." 

The spring fair and festival was held on May 
13, 14 and 15, and the cantata of the " Hay- 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 255 

makers " having proved so popular, was per- 
formed each evening, with no diminution of in- 
terest. A pleasant little band from the Sabbath- 
school, called the " Dime Associates," gave a 
nice entertainment of music, recitations and tab- 
leaux, in the lecture room, on the evening of 
the twenty-first. 

June 3 a strawberry and ice cream festival 
was given in aid of missionary work ; on the 
eighth Mr. Cudworth preached on temperance 
at the Second Church, on Boylston street ; on 
the fourteenth the Sunday-school picnic was held 
at Melville Garden, Downer Landing ; on the 
twenty-second a beautiful musical sendee was 
given with his Sunday evening lecture, and on 
the twenty-ninth he commenced his Summer 
Course of Sunday evening Sermons at Union 
Hall, concluding August 31, 

In July Mr. Cudworth extended an invitation 
to Central Square Universalist Society to wor- 
ship with his church on Sunday forenoon during 
the vacation. 

The following was a cheering appreciation of 



256 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

his labors : " The members of the East Boston 
Unitarian Sunday-school, assembled to pass in 
review the work done in the school year just 
drawing to a close, are conscious of having too 
long delayed an imperative duty, which they 
now seek to discharge. They therefore hasten 
to express and place on record the deep sense 
of obligation felt by all who have been teachers, 
pupils, or friends of our school, to Warren H. 
Cudworth, our beloved superintendent, for his 
unwearied, constant devotion to the welfare of 
all connected with us, notwithstanding the many 
demands upon his time and energies made by 
the church and society of which for more than 
a quarter of a century he has been pastor, and 
by numerous struggling churches, to whose up- 
building he has gladly contributed his well-known 
zeal and energy; and also the incessant calls 
made in an active community like ours, upon so 
ready and cheerful a worker. Neither time nor 
distance has diminished the active interest of our 
beloved superintendent in our welfare ; for dur- 
ing his necessary absence at the seat of war as 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 257 

chaplain of the First Massachusetts Regiment, 
he sent a weekly letter from the camp which 
was read at the opening of each session. For 
all this faithful service, self-denying labor, and 
constant regard for our highest interest — the 
welfare of the soul — we offer in return and beg 
him to accept our warmest heartfelt gratitude 
which nothing can quench, and no lapse of years 
obliterate." 

The following also was received from his Clif- 
ton friends : 

Clifton, Mass., Sept. 1, 1879. 

Rev. Warren H. Cudworth — Dear Sir: — The under- 
signed, attendants at the Sunday services held under your 
charge at Clifton, — "down by the sea," — wish to express 
our high appreciation of them, and say to you that they 
have been a source of pleasure and profit to us. We 
shall ever hold them and you in grateful remembrance. 
Please accept our thanks for the words of warning, direc- 
tion, cheer and comfort you have spoken. We have been 
instructed and profited by them. You have our best 
wishes for yourself personally, and for success in your 
work for the master. 

Yours truly, 

A. W. — J. C, etc. 

Boston's tribute to the memory of the gallant 



25 5 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

General Hooker, was fitly rendered on Sunday, 
November 16, by a semi-military demonstration, 
and the added pomp of many civic dignitaries. 
Rev. Mr. Cudworth, as the honored war chap- 
lain, delivered the eulogy at Music Hall, and 
received many appreciative testimonials. 

The Christmas fair and festival was held De- 
cember 1 6, 17 and 18, and the entertainment 
was again the cantata of the " Haymakers." 

The lecture room was opened during the 
autumn to Doctor Abbie E. Cutter, who gave a 
course of lectures which were much appreciated 
by many ladies ; on the thirtieth the year was 
fitly closed by a fine classical concert in the 
winter's course of entertainments. 

In January, 1880, Mr. Cudworth gave the last 
entertainment in the Grand Army Lecture Course 
in East Boston. 

"January 25 he preached an elaborate sermon 
on man's relation to God, as child and parent. 
The text says we are heirs of God, but a qual- 
ifying if precedes it. If children. If not chil- 
dren, we are not heirs. Now the whole scope 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 259 

of the Gospel is to make us children. And this 
is the doctrine of Unitarianism. The preacher 
saw many strangers present, and thus availed 
himself of their presence to state emphatically 
that for twenty-eight years as a minister, and 
three years as a student, this had been the 
central truth of his preaching and of his pre- 
vious study. He had always endeavored to keep 
Christ in the foreground, and to preach his Gos- 
pel for the instruction and edification of his 
hearers. Here he illustrated his theme eloquently 
and earnestly, and showed them that they could 
make no mistake about their being children of 
God. If they loved him, they would feel de- 
pendent upon him; if dependent, they would feel 
grateful, and if grateful, would be obedient. 
None of these qualities can be separated. They 
must be combined in the lives of all who wished 
to become heirs of God and joint heirs with 
Christ. His closing appeal was full of tender 
entreaty for his hearers to satisfy themselves by 
the tests he had given that they were indeed 
children of God. In no other way would they 



260 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

enjoy peace of mind here or the hope of hap- 
piness hereafter." 

In harmony with the declarations of this ser- 
mon was the tender poem that follows, and which 
was written some years previously. " The following 
lines were written and read by the late Rev. Mr. 
Cudworth of East Boston, during a sermon 'w r hich 
he preached at the North Church in Salem, and 
which were furnished the Gazette of that city by 
a member of the church, in whose possession the 
autograph copy now is : " 

Revelations iii., 20. — Behold, I stand at the door, and 
knock : if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will 
come in to him, and will sup zuith him, and he with me. 

Speechless sorrow sat with me. 

I was sighing wearily ! 

Lamp and fire were out, the rain 

"Wildly beat the window-pane! 

In the dark we heard a knock, 

And a hand was on the lock; 

One in waiting spake to me, 
Saying sweetly : 

"I am come to sup with thee." 

All my room was dark and damp; 
" Sorrow," said I, " trim the lamp ; 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 26 1 

Light the fire and cheer thy face ; 
Set the guest-chair in its place." 
And, again, I heard the knock; 
In the dark I found the lock. 
" Enter ! I have turned the key ! 

Enter, stranger, 
Who art come to sup with me!" 

Opening wide the door, he came; 
But I could not speak his name ; 
In the guest-chair took his place ; 
But I could not see his face ! 
When my cheerful fire was beaming, 
When my little lamp was gleaming, 
And the feast was spread for three — 

Lo ! my Master 
Was the guest that supped with me ! 

And he cometh even now, 

Lovingly to all below ; 

Through our darkness, doubt and woe, 

Still he knocks, as long ago. 

Waiting patiently as ever, 

Meaning to desert us never; 

Longing our dear Lord to be. 

Lo ! the Master 
Seeks to-day for thee and me ! 

January 20 an attractive musical entertainment 
was given of the "Great National Airs," with 



262 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

costumes and decorations, concluding with a 
grand tableau of all the nations represented. 

March 16 and 17 the charming juvenile oper- 
etta of " Golden-hair and the Three Bears " was 
given in the lecture course, and on the eight- 
eenth an entertainment of the " Old Union 
Guard,'' under the auspices of the " Association 
of Company B. First Massachusetts Volunteer In- 
fantry," to consist of a lecture on "Army Life," 
by " Chaplain Cudworth, which was given in 
parts, and interspersed with vocal and instru- 
mental music, recitations, readings, etc." 

April 13 a coffee party was given, with music 
and readings, in behalf of the Church Mission. 

The beauties of nature, and the grace of 
youth, rendered the Easter service effective as 
usual in our lovely church home. On the nine- 
teenth and twentieth the favorite juvenile oper- 
etta of "Little Red Riding-hood and the Wolf" 
was given for the benefit of the Sunday-school. 

March 23 a fine entertainment of readings and 
music was given in the regular course. 

May 4, 5 and 6, the spring fair and festival 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 263 

was held, with " Golden-hair and the Three 
Bears " for the entertainment each evening. 

" May 29, at two p. if., Rev. Mr. Cudworth 
sailed in the steamship Parthia, by invitation of 
and in company with Mr. and Mrs. R. M. 
Barnard, of Everett, Mass., to be absent a year, 
during which they propose to make a tour 
1 around the world.' The week was full of dem- 
onstrations of good will toward their pastor of 
twenty-eight years, and the following was the 
programme : 

" Sunday, the twenty-third, at the morning ser- 
vice, he left them in God's hands, who would 
protect them and provide for their spiritual and 
material wants, and he hoped would unite them 
and him once more to worship together. In the 
afternoon the Sunday-school anniversary was held, 
and after the usual reports, etc., an original 
poem, by Rev. W. P. Tilden, on the departure 
of their beloved superintendent, was very prettily 
read by one of the young misses. In the even- 
ing the Sunday-school concert was crowded, and 
after the cantata of the 'Christian Graces,' 



264 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

with recitations and music, an original poem by- 
Mr. J. W. Turner was very impressively recited. 
As the service was drawing to a close, Rev. Mr. 
Cudworth remarked that he expected while away 
to see some beautiful pictures in the Old World, 
and to visit sculptors' galleries where would be 
works of sublime art, but no sight he should 
witness would be so pleasant to him as the large 
church filled three times that day with earnest 
and sympathetic listeners. I hope that all may 
be spared, that I may return and labor for your 
good in the future." 

On Monday evening his birthday was observed, 
and after the congratulations of the evening, Hon. 
Henry B. Hill called upon Mr. Wm. J. Ellis, 
who said : " On an interesting occasion like the 
present, when we review the many pleasant asso- 
ciations of the past, it is well to give form to 
our feelings as far as we can in words : 

Therefore Resolved y That we congratulate our beloved 
pastor on the anniversary of his birth, and hope we may 
all have many opportunities in the future to repeat our 
congratulations. We wish him and his kind friends, who 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 265 

are about to leave us for a season, all the enjoyment 
they can wish themselves, and a happy return to their 
native land. 

The Rev. Mr. Bush, of Everett, made a sym- 
pathetic speech, and read an original poem by 
one of the members of the society. Mr. Barnard 
then said he now fully realized what a responsi- 
bility himself and wife had assumed, and that 
nothing on their part should be spared to return 
the loved pastor to them in health and strength. 
Mr. W. H. Baldwin said : " There is joy at 
the pleasant prospects of your pastor, and sorrow 
that we are to be separated from him so long. 
We shall all wish to hear him preach when he 
returns, and he may be sure he will be wanted 
over at the Union. Then there will be a grand 
reunion, to which I hope to be invited." Mr. 
Cudworth then made one of his earnest speeches, 
concluding with, "We shall remember this occa- 
sion when far away, and my final thought is 
1 Hope on ; hope ever.' " The Divine blessing 
was then invoked, and the delicacies of the 
bountifully laden tables partaken of. On one of 



266 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

them was several beautiful floral devices, prom- 
inent among which was a large horseshoe bearing 
the word " Luck." 

On Tuesday evening the officers and teachers 
of the Sunday-school tendered their superintendent 
a farewell reception. " Upon the tables were 
several bouquets, and opposite the seat occupied 
by Mr. Cudworth was an immense floral heart 
with the word ' Love ' inscribed in colored floral 
letters. Previous to partaking of the repast, Mr. 
Samuel C. Martin, Jr., addressed the superintend- 
ent in a feeling and sympathetic speech, closing 
as follows : ' Yes, dear pastor and superintendent, 
we will " stand by," and not only that, but we 
will stand firmly by the cause which we know is 
uppermost in your heart, and as a symbol of 
our pure Christian love we place before you this 
floral design, hoping that often in your travels 
you will remember this occasion and picture to 
yourself the " heart of love " which the teachers 
of your Sunday-school now give to you.' " 

To this Mr. Cudworth most tpuchingly re- 
sponded, and soon after the supper left the 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 267 

church to be installed as Chaplain of Joseph 
Hooker Post 23, G. A. R. ; and later was taken 
to Amory Hall to attend the " Nineteenth Anni- 
versary of the old First Regiment " of which he 
is chaplain. Although the hour was late, the 
" boys " were expecting him and as he entered 
the hall he was received by three times three 
hearty cheers and a tiger, all rising to their 
feet meanwhile. To this Chaplain Cudworth re- 
sponded : " I feel under great obligations for the 
heart}* manner in which I have been received, 
and I want to thank you for the history you have 
written. You have made such a record that you 
have secured a place in the hearts of the peo- 
ple. For a while the public felt sick of the 
guise and uniform of soldiers, but now the posi- 
tion a soldier holds is established ; as is shown 
in the estimate of the gallant men whose record 
you helped to make." Captain John McDonough 
then arose, and addressing the chaplain, said : 
" I speak for myself and my associates when I 
say that there is no man who took the commis- 
sion of chaplain who worked harder for the in- 



268 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

terests of his regiment than did you, sir. You 
labored night and day, not only in your legiti- 
mate capacity as spiritual guide, but in number- 
less other ways, such as writing letters for the 
men, sending home their money, etc. Your re- 
ligious teachings were so popular that men of 
other regiments gladly visited our camp for the 
purpose of hearing you preach. I hope you will 
outlive us all, and be able to say a word, and 
offer prayer over the remains of each of us. In 
your travels I hope you will not see any whom 
you will like better than you do us. I beg 
leave to present to you, in behalf of the First 
Regiment Association, this pair of field glasses 
to enable you to see your way home clearly." 
To which Chaplain Cudworth responded : " If 
you are not all believers in Divine providence I 
can convince you in five minutes. I had just 
such a pair of glasses given me when I went 
to the front, by Mayor Lincoln. I loaned them 
to a lieutenant who was taken prisoner, and 
the glasses were confiscated. I said then that 
in the providence of God I should get them 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 269 

back, and here they are. I thank you very much 
for this testimonial of your regard. These glasses 
shall be my costant companion on the sea and 
on land, and wherever I use them, or allow a 
friend to have them, I shall have something to 
say of the gallant soldiers whose gift they are. I 
thank you again for your valuable and highly 
appreciated gift." 

On Wednesday evening the two sewing circles 
of the society gave a complimentary supper to 
their pastor and Mr. and Mrs. Barnard. There 
was no speech making, but occasion was taken 
to utter many a kind word, and to express hopes 
for an agreeable trip and a safe return for the 
party. On Friday a farewell prayer meeting was 
held, which was largely attended. Arrangements 
were made to tender Mr. Cudworth a compli- 
mentary escort to the steamer. It was under 
command of Captain Henry Parkinson, Jr., and 
consisted of the Maverick Rifles (Company L. 
First Regiment), Sheridan Guards (Company H. 
Ninth Regiment), High School Battalion, Captain 
George French, veterans of the old Massachusetts 



270 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

Regiment of Infantry, and of the Massachusetts 
Association. They formed in Maverick Square, 
where a carriage containing Rev. Mr. Cudworth 
and Hon. Henry B. Hill was standing. The 
route of procession was then taken up, to the 
Cunard Wharf, where Mr. Cudworth was con- 
ducted to the steamer in true military style. A 
large number of well-known and influential friends 
in carriages and on foot followed, and the 
wharves and housetops near were covered with 
spectators. By invitation of Mr. Elliott Ritchie, 
and owners of the steamer Charles Lawrence, 
many friends accompanied the Parthia down the 
harbor as far as Boston Light, where a parting 
salute was fired, cheers were given, and the party 
wished bon voyage — the band playing meantime — 
after which the Lawrence returned to East Boston. 
June 26 the following pleasant notice was sent 
by the favorite "Mrs. Partington," to the Hartford 
Post: "Your readers all must have heard of 
him — priest, pastor, poet, pundit almost poten- 
tate in the little realms, his church. He has 
been the good pastor for many years, he being 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 27 1 

now over fifty, and the relation between him 
and his people is one that is exceptional in its 
attraction. In the first place he is his own pro- 
prietor. He owns the church and is a bachelor. 
The church was in debt, and the people w r ere 
borrowing from Peter to pay Paul his interest, 
or vice versa, and he cut down his own pay 
and reduced the church expenses to favor them, 
and when he found this would not do, he com- 
pounded with P. and P. and became proprietor. 
He has freed his church from compulsory tax- 
ation and assumed the mortgage himself. He 
has opened parlors in his church, and music 
and refreshments lend their attractions to the 
young, he being as young as any of them ; while 
to the old he is the grave and loving adviser 
and friend. Entertainments are frequent in his 
parlors, which he often conducts himself — being 
his own orchestra and master of ceremonies. 
All the receipts for these is toward meeting ex- 
penses. His assumption of the mortgage lessens 
and mitigates, but does not, of course, obviate 
church expenses. He was chaplain of the Mas- 



272 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

sachusetts First for three years of the war, and 
I think is such at present. On the occasion of 
his leaving for his 'trip round the world,' crowds 
went down to bid him good-by, thus attesting 
their devotion to him. He is a fat, pleasant- 
looking man, ' with twenty » shillings in the pound 
in his face,' as Sydney Smith said of Edward 
Everett, and a general outline that reminds one, 
who know who is meant, of Father Phil in 
' Handy Andy,' barring the father's rosy beak, 
which is lacking in the East Boston minister. 
Mr. Cudworth is one of the most influential 
temperance men in the State, is indefatigable in 
his industry while engaged in all that is good, 
and makes such a mark on the general society 
that his going abroad is considered a half calam- 
ity by his neighbors and friends who, without 
regard to sect, wish him a happy return to 
them." 

Before he went abroad he secured the services 
of Prof. E. J. Young of Harvard College, to 
supply his pulpit during his absence. He did so 
to very general acceptation until he received a 



REV. WARREN H, CUD WORTH. 273 

call to Waltham, after which it devolved on the 
chairman of the standing committee to secure a 
supply. 

The following is one of the cheerful letters 
which he wrote, while absent, to our dear 
mother, who mourned his absence very much : 

Paris, France, Sept. 16, 1880. 
My Dear Mother: — As you took the trouble when I 
was a little chap to have me taught to read and write, it 
is no more than fair that you should now enjoy a little 
of the result of my reading and writing while far away 
from the home of my boyhood. You impressed it upon 
me to be fair, and I can assure you it is a good thing 
to be fair with everybody, whether they are fair with you 
or not. Well, one of the places about which I had read 
was Paris, the capital of France. It is very old and famous 
and is crowded full of things old and new, which people 
come from all parts of the world to see, and stay here 
months to enjoy. To show you what they are I need only 
refer to one of them, and that is a Catholic cathedral 
called Notre Dame, or the Church of Our Lady, which 
was commenced in 1163, and after passing through wars 
and fires, revolutions and neglect, was finally restored and 
completed in 1845. For more than seven hundred years 
people have worshiped God, and sung the praises of 
Christ upon this spot. I stood before the front centre 
door and counted six hundred and twenty-five statues and 
other images, carved from stone, over that entrance alone. 






274 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

There are three entrances, and they are all similarly 
adorned. The inside of the church is full of columns, 
statues, paintings, and little side chapels, dedicated to 
different saints, and will seat twenty thousand persons. I 
went all over the church, and then up into the tower, 
which is ascended by three hundred and ninety-seven steps, 
and contains a bell which weighs sixteen tons, with a clap- 
per which Weighs one thousand pounds. From the top of 
the tower a perfect bird's eye view of Paris can be ob- 
tained, with its two millions of inhabitants, its hundreds 
of fine public buildings, its miles of streets and avenues, 
its parks and pleasure grounds, its vast squares filled with 
monuments, statues, fountains, etc., its vehicles and people 
flying to and fro, and its famous river Seine dividing the 
city into two parts, covered with steamboats and other 
water craft, and spanned by about thirty of the finest 
stone and iron bridges the world ever beheld. If I had 
time, I should like to linger hours in and around such a 
famous old building as this, which is as perfect and beau- 
tiful as it is huge and massive ; where kings and queens, 
emperors and empresses have bowed head and knee with 
their poorest subjects ; where the great Napoleon with his be- 
loved Josephine used to be seen ; which has been used for a 
stable and a storehouse, when revolutionary mobs held Paris ; 
which has been doomed to destruction more than once; 
and yet, saved, restored, still arrests the eye by the exquis- 
ite symmetry of its proportions, and both rests and ele- 
vates the moral nature by the calm repose -of its sublime 
masses, story on story, arch above arch, buttress and pil- 
lar, pedestal and spire, springing up and rising higher, 
until the very heavens seem reached. But, dear mother, I 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 275 

think this is about enough of Notre Dame, so I'll just 
turn into a grasshopper, and jump over into St. Cloud 
and Versailles where the kings and emperors of France used 
to keep house and entertain their royal and titled guests, 
as many as five hundred of whom would sometimes visit 
at a time. Why, here in the carriage house is a coach 
all covered with carvings and gold, which cost with its 
gold embroidered upholstery two hundred and twenty-five 
thousand dollars, and is only large enough for four. 
Many a baby carriage contains daily more happiness un- 
doubtedly, than that expensive vehicle ever carried. There 
are half a dozen similar coaches, all gilding and satin, 
either one of which cost what would be a fortune to a 
family; and the simple endurance of an over-worked peo- 
ple made such wasteful extravagance possible. Who won- 
ders at mobs after seeing such royal robbers ! Ah, this is 
the palace ! Here is the room where Marie Antoinette 
was found and seized by the mob, and there is the 
great sparkling saloon, all mirrors and enamel, where 
William of Germany was made emperor. See, this was 
Napoleon's bath ; and this his bed. Here is his chair, and 
there the table where he wrote or signed State docu- 
ments. What glorious pictures ! There are miles of can- 
vas on the walls all rich and mellow with such tints as 
could only come from the easel of Horace Vernet, and 
other famous painters. Oh, it does seem as if some of 
those stalwart men and beautiful women would step right 
down from the wall; they are all so lifelike! But they 
don't. They stay where they're put, and are far more use- 
ful where they now are, than when they were up to leg- 
alized stealing, and other political mischief. We left Ver- 



276 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

sailles with a sigh. It cost, and is costing, immense sums 
of money — sixteen thousand francs to play the fountains 
one day is an item. I have only time and space to say 
that I am well, and if God wills, we start for Italy on 
Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. Barnard send steamships of 
regard, and I send a whole freight train of love to you 
and Angeline and others who may wish it. 

Your affectionate son, 

Warren. 

October 31 he wrote from Baalbec, Syria, "To 
the Worshipful Master, Officers and Members of 
Baalbec Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of 
East Boston," a most interesting letter concerning 
the wonderful ruins he had seen. 

Most faithfully did the society he had left 
labor to keep all the wheels of progress in 
motion during his absence, and on December 7, 
8 and 9 held their customary fair, which was 
quite successful, with pleasant entertainments each 
evening. 

A course of twelve entertainments was also 
commenced December 14, which proved both 
pleasing and remunerative. 

January 6, 1881, a fine concert was given by 
the Rossini Quartette, and February 15 the 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 277 

juvenile operetta of " Little Red Riding-hood and 
the Wolf " was repeated to a full house. 

February 20 the absent pastor sent an interest- 
ing letter to the Christian Register, concerning the 
Calcutta Mission, which is supported by the Uni 
tarian denomination, Rev. C. H. A. Dall mis- 
sionary, and of which, from personal observation, 
he could speak only in the highest terms. 

May 3, 4 and 5 the spring festival and sale 
was held with all its old-time energy and suc- 
cess, with the added inspiration of the near re- 
turn of the loved pastor and friend. 

The lecture course was closed March 8, with a 
concert and literary entertainment, at which the 
Kinder Sinfonie was introduced, and the labors 
of the faithful workers in their pastor's absence 
crowned with success. 

Saturday, May 28, the welcome day arrived 
that brought the son, brother and pastor back to 
the people of his choice. A party of church 
friends, with a delegation of Joseph Hooker Post 
23, G. A. R., received, and escorted home from 
the Boston and Albany Railroad, their pastor 



278 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

and chaplain, whose first visit was to his aged 
mother, whose eighty years had been extended 
to have — not see, for she was blind — her only 
son safely returned from all the dangers of such 
a trip. He had passed through Europe, the Holy 
Land, Africa, Asia, China and Japan, and visited 
over five hundred different points of interest. 

On Sunday forenoon the Unitarian Church was 
crowded with friends to listen to the loved voice. 
The church was handsomely decorated with flowers, 
and at each end hung the motto, " Welcome 
Home." Mr. Cudworth offered a heartfelt invo- 
cation, after which all united in an original 
" Hymn of Welcome," and, after other devotional 
exercises, preached a discourse on " The Religious 
Advantages of a Tour around the World." 

" The hold which Rev. Mr. Cudworth has on 
the affections of his people was amply shown 
Tuesday evening by the numbers which gathered 
at the reception tendered him to congratulate him 
on his safe return. The company began to as- 
semble before eight o'clock, and the spacious 
vestry of the church was completely filled, the 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 279 

pastor moving about among his friends with a 
smile and a good word for every one. At nine 
o'clock Edward Brigham, Esq., called the com- 
pany to order, and introduced H. H. Lincoln, 
Esq., who welcomed Mr. Cudworth back to his 
people, and wished him the same success and 
affection in the future as he has had in the 
past. Congratulatory remarks were made by Rev. 
Messrs. Young and Bush, Mr. W. H. Baldwin 
and Mr. Barnard, to which Mr. Cudworth re- 
sponded, and the festivities closed with a nice 
collation." 

The old Massachusetts First Regiment held its 
annual reunion June i, and the entrance of their 
chaplain was the signal for the heartiest applause, 
after which he contrasted the soldiers of other 
lands with those he saw about him, very much 
to the credit of our own country. June 2 the 
Young Men's Social Union tendered him a re- 
ception and supper, which was heartily enjoyed 
by all. His Sabbath-school greeted with enthu- 
siastic love their long absent superintendent, 
singing — 



280 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Our motto we did not forget, 
And tried to "Stand By" and be true; 
And now we welcome you with song, 
A grateful song of love to you. 

June 26 the Sabbath-school anniversary was 
held with renewed cheer in the return of their 
truest friend and head. 

In September came the end to the long sus- 
pense — the sad waiting of the nation on its 
honored chief magistrate, whose life had been 
taken by foul hands; and on the twenty-fifth Mr. 
Cudworth preached a " Discourse in Memory of 
Hon. James A. Garfield, the lamented President 
of the United States/' An invitation was ex- 
tended to Governor Long and staff to be present, 
with the First Regiment, to be escorted by the 
" Sheridan Guards," Company H. Ninth Regiment. 

The Summer Course of Sunday Evening Ser- 
vices at Union Hall, Boylston street, by Mr. 
Cudworth, was commenced July 3, and concluded 
September 4. 

In October, the following appeared in a local 
paper: "Mr. Cudworth is everybody's friend. He 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 28 1 

fosters, we verily believe, no ill feeling towards 
any person on earth. Who could look into his 
face, which so serenely beams, so positively glows 
with the very quintessence of good nature and 
kindly feeling, and not see that such a man 
could cherish no harm towards any, but rather 
an affection for all ? In the best, and noblest, 
and very complete sense he is a Christian ; and 
to be such a Christian is to be as much more 
than a sectarian than the peak of Mount Wash- 
ington is higher than the tiniest pebble at its 
base. East Boston proudly knows his endless 
acts of good will, charity and love performed in 
season and out for so many years. Among the 
most unselfish of men that ever lived, he remains 
here in our community doing daily and quietly, 
a measureless amount of good, some of which 
no human eye ever sees other than his own and 
the needy recipient. The temptations of higher 
salary, of wider fields of labor, of so-called 
superior social position, and a deal else, have no 
more influence on this devoted, Christian, noble 
man than has the lazy summer southwest zephyr 



282 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

on yonder Bunker Hill shaft. May he long re- 
main among us, and may his days reach into those 
of the revered centenarian." 

Union Religious Services on Thanksgiving Day. 

A Union Thanksgiving Service was held in the 
Presbyterian Church at eleven a. m. on Thanks- 
giving Day, the pastor, Rev. F. E. Marsten, pre- 
siding. Rev. Messrs. Marsten, Cudworth, Gracey 
and Munroe took part, Mr. Cudworth making the 
principal address. It was an interesting service. 

A friend said : " Mr. Cudworth preaches to my 
mind. He must be a good man, for he puts 
his heart into every word." 

The Christmas fair and festival was held Decem- 
ber 20, 21 and 22, with entertainments each 
evening, furnished by the Young Men's Social 
Union, which proved very attractive. 

The following appeared in an evening paper : 
''The selection of Rev. W. H. Cudworth to take 
part in the exercises of inaugurating the new 
city government, on Monday next, is excellent. 
A body which is to be blessed by one of Mr. 
Cudworth's benedictions ought to go straight and 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 283 

be good. This honor is equally due East Boston 
and Mr. Cudworth, who is one of the popular 
clergymen of Boston, and who leads many in 
unselfish labors outside the pulpit." 

" Great pressure has been brought to bear upon 
Rev. W. H. Cudworth, both in and out of his 
society, to induce him to give a series of lectures 
to the people of East Boston upon his travels 
round the world. In his church, last Sunday, he 
announced his intention of commencing such a 
series, illustrated with stereopticon pictures, on 
January 10, 1882, to continue for ten successive 
weeks." 

They were held in the church, and proved 
very successful, the stormiest evenings of the sea- 
son causing no diminution of attendance. 

The annual New Year's festival was the occa- 
sion of renewed pleasure, not only on account 
of the absence of their pastor the year before, 
but from its similarity to a family gathering, 
which made happy every one who attended. Hon. 
Henry B. Hill, the chairman, read letters and 
poems from members, calling upon gentlemen to 
respond. Deacon George O. Parker, and Messrs. 



284 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

R. M. Barnard, W. J. Ellis and T. C. Powers, 
with the pastor, did so in a very entertaining 
vein ; and the happy time came to an end with 
a fine collation. " The reception was in every 
sense enjoyable, and those who were not present 
were indeed unfortunate." 

The following explains itself : 

New York, Feb. 15, 1882. 
To the Editor of the East Boston Argus: — A 
good friend in East Boston has sent me eight copies of 
the Argus, containing eight sermons and lectures by Rev. 
W. H. Cudworth. These I have read with very great in- 
terest. The discourses on " The Unity of God, M and " Jesus 
Christ," are remarkably fine. The truth is presented in a 
clear light and with such persuasive eloquence as to carry 
conviction to every hearer. Mr. Cudworth attacks no one's 
opinions, and there is such a spirit of candor and fairness 
in all his statements as to command respect from all who 
may differ with him. Every argument is surcharged with 
proof and Bible authority, and without the least grain of 
sophistry. There is a reverent and Christ-like spirit per- 
vading all his doctrinal discourses that is remarkably 
winning. One remarkable feature of Mr. Cudworth's ser- 
mons is that his audience never get ahead of him and 
anticipate the climax of his sentences. One thought fol- 
lows another in rapid succession, and there is no repeti- 
tion. He is Unitarian, yet he presents his views in such 
an evangelical form as to receive the endorsement of large 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 285 

members of orthodox people. Not the least attractive part 
of his preaching is the intellectual treat he affords. If I 
cared nothing for religion, I would walk a mile any time 
for " the feast of reason " which is afforded by one of 
his sermons. Some years since we tried very hard to get 
him to come to Xew York and take charge of the Church 
of the Messiah, but his congregation, by an almost unani- 
mous vote, decided not to part with him. 

Yours, 

G. Q. Colton. 

Our dear mother — the only parent we had 
ever known — had been growing weaker in mind 
and body during the winter, and on March 8 
the heavenly summons came, and she passed on 
to the home where sight and sense would be un- 
obscured. The breaking of our little family circle 
was hard, but his strong arm was left on which 
to lean. 

The following lines were written when his 
strong arm was quick to serve : 

Fond memories of bygone years, 
Of childhood's hopes and childhood's fears, 
Of smiles and sunshine, clouds and tears, 
Are stirred while thinking dear of thee, 
My Mother. 



286 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

Youth's happy, happy' hours have fled, 
Its joys, its pleasures all are dead; 
And now to manhood gently led 
I feel how much I owe to thee, 
My Mother. 

Thy watchful care and tender love 
First taught my lisping lips to move 
In infant prayer to God above — 
O, what a blessing proved to be 
My Mother. 

Now the seraph choir has met thee, 
Ne'er to wander, ne'er to roam ; 
God, and Christ, and angels greet thee 
With a loving welcome home. 

In March he commenced a course of his illus- 
trated lectures in the Town Hall, Milford, of 
which one of the local papers thus spoke : " Mr. 
Cudworth is among the most pleasing and inter- 
esting of public lecturers, and always discourses 
to the enjoyment and instruction of his hearers, 
no matter what may be his subject. But we 
judge him to be especially happy in telling of 
his experiences and reminiscences in his belting 
of the world as a tourist, besides which the 
stereoscopic views he presents are of the finest." 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 287 

He had also received highly commendatory 
notices from the Post, Advertise?-, Globe, Herald, 
Argus, Tra?iscript, Traveller and Journal of Boston. 

On the seventeenth he lectured in Lowell, on 
" China and the Chinese," the closing lecture of 
his course there, which was much enjoyed. 

" On the twenty-first and twenty-second the lec- 
ture room of the church was crowded by a fine 
audience who had gathered to hear the cantata 
of ' The Rolling Year,' by a corps of little boys 
and girls who, by their splendid rendition of the 
same, are justly entitled to be called a Juvenile 
Handel and Haydn Society." 

March 29 the Young Men's Social Union en- 
joyed a fine reunion and supper, with speeches, 
recitations and music. 

April 2 " Sendees in honor of the Poet Long- 
fellow were held in the church. Rev. W. H. 
Cudworth offered a fervent and eloquent prayer, 
after which, in a graceful introduction, he pre- 
sented as the first speaker, His Excellency Gov- 
ernor Long," who gave an address "tender and 
true," which was followed by readings from the 



288 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

poet, by Joseph Proctor, Esq. After the singing 
of a hymn the Rev. N. H. Chamberlain was in- 
troduced, who also dwelt on the sweetness of 
the poet's life. Mr. Cudworth then requested the 
audience to join with him in the alternate read- 
ing of " The Psalm of Life," followed by the 
singing of the same. Rev. S. L. Gracey was 
then introduced, who expressed his sense of the 
loss we have sustained; Mr. Cudworth followed 
with his memory of the great poet, as the patient 
teacher even with the slowest intellect. Mr. 
Proctor then read "Resignation," and, by request, 
"The Wreck of the Hesperus." "The Sweet 
Bye and Bye " was then sung, and with a fer- 
vent benediction from Mr. Cudworth, the services 
were brought to a close. 

April 6 a Union Fast Day Service was held 
in the church. The following was the Order of 
Exercises : Invocation, Rev. L. B. Bates ; reading 
of 786th hymn, Rev. N. B. Jones, Jr. ; prayer, 
Rev. S. L. Gracey; Scripture reading, Rev. F. E. 
Marsten ; reading of 808th hymn, Rev. W. F. 
Potter ; sermon, Rev. W. H. Cudworth ; prayer, 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 289 

Rev. N. B. Jones, Jr. ; reading of 785th hymn, 
Rev. S. L. Gracey ; benediction, Rev. L. B. Bates. 
The sermon was from Isaiah lviii. 6 : The fast 
that I have chosen. 

" With emphatic earnestness he condemned the 
follies and vices of the times. From the text 
and context he drew the rightful interpretation 
of the observance of fasting, humiliation and 
prayer. His comparisons were striking, and the 
discourse one of studied thought, and was lis- 
tened to with marked attention." 

The Easter services were of an earnest and 
impressive character, showing his positive faith in 
the risen Saviour. After an opening . voluntary, 
six children were christened, Easter, hymns were 
sung, prayer was offered, with readings from St. 
Matthew's account of the resurrection, and a 
discourse founded upon Matthew xxviii. 6 : Come, 
see the place where the Lord lay. 

Mr. Cudworth gave a minute description of the 
Church of the Holy Sepulchre as it is at the 
present day, with its forty-three costly silver lamps 
kept constantly burning over the spot where the 



290 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

body of our Lord was laid ; and drew practical 
lessons from the text appropriate to the day. In 
the afternoon the primary and senior departments 
of the Sabbath-school met together ; an Easter 
service was read, Easter carols sung, and Luke's 
account of the resurrection of Jesus was read. 
Then addresses, full of earnest feeling and ex- 
cellent advice, from Hon. Henry B. Hill, and 
Deacon George O. Parker, concluded the session. 
In the evening an Easter Sunday-school concert 
was given by more than one hundred pupils, in 
a manner most creditable to them and most en- 
joyable to their friends. 

The spring fair and festival was held May 9, 
10 and 11, and the sacred cantata of "Ruth 
the Moabitess," in costume, was given at the en- 
tertainment each evening, Mr. Cudworth being 
the organist. 

The Summer Course of. Sunday Evening Ser- 
mons in Union Hall commenced this year on 
June 18, and concluded September 3. No vaca- 
tion for the willing worker who was slowly but 
surely expending his useful life. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 29 1 

The Sunday-school picnic was held June 24, at 
Melville Garden, Downer Landing, and the anni- 
versary on the twenty-fifth. The reports showed 
a membership of nine officers, eighty-four teach- 
ers and six hundred and forty-five pupils. The 
contributions during the year were five hun- 
dred and ninety-six dollars and twenty cents ; 
expenses five hundred and forty-seven dollars. 
Mr. R.. M. Barnard made a brief but telling ad- 
dress, and the following preamble and resolutions 
were then introduced by Mr. S. C. Martin, Jr., 
and unanimously passed. 

Whereas, For twenty-four years it has been the pleasure 
of our Heavenly Father that Rev. Warren H. Cudworth 
should be the executive officer of the East Boston Uni- 
tarian Sunday-school, and, 

Whereas, We, members of the school, realizing that our 
superintendent has been, and is, at all times, and in all 
places, with his whole heart, mind, body and soul, working 
for the advancement of those great truths taught and lived 
by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, be it 

Resolved, That we, with hearts overflowing with thankful 
praise to God, for his gracious guidance of our lives, and 
an ever rising petition for the continuance of the same, 
do herein express to our beloved superintendent our deep 
love for him personally, our heartfelt appreciation of his 



292 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

labors among us, our sincere gratitude for his fearless im- 
partiality as executive officer of our school, and our reali- 
zation of the disinterested way he has always worked for 
the welfare of the school at large. And, 

Resolved, that we hereby express our heartfelt sympathy 
with him in his Christian labors, and, not only our 
willingness, but our earnest desire, to continue with a:i 
ever-increasing energy, our hearty cooperation with him 
in spreading the glorious tidings of the gospel among 
all God's children, that, "Every knee may bend, and every 
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of 
God the Father." 

The rewards to the meritorious were then dis- 
tributed, and with singing, and one of the fer- 
vent benedictions of their superintendent, the ex 
ercises closed. 

July 4 the one hundredth anniversary of the 
oration on that day in our city, was observed at 
the Boston Theatre, His Excellency Governor 
Long being the orator, and Rev. W. H. Cud- 
worth chaplain of the day. 

October 25 he gave an illustrated lecture in 
the Newton Star Course, on China. 

November 22 he had the pleasure of taking part 
in the services at the installation of one of his 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 293 

own Sabbath-school, Rev. Edward B. Maglathlin. 

The Christmas fair and festival was held De- 
cember 5, 6 and 7, the cantata of " Ruth the 
Moabitess " being again presented to the gratifi- 
cation of all. 

Through the generosity of the friends of Mr. 
Cudworth and his society, Mr. and Mrs. Bar- 
nard, he was enabled to secure Mr. A. O. Van 
Lennep for his course of four lectures, with ex- 
hibitions of Oriental Life, which proved exceed- 
ingly interesting and instructive. They were de- 
livered December n, 12, 13 and 14. The same 
generous friends also gave the church some beau- 
tiful stained glass windows, which were acknowl- 
edged by its pastor in an appropriate service in 
the church which was his love and pride. 

January 3, 1883, he commenced a course of 
ten illustrated lectures in the Trinity Methodist 
Church, Charlestown, which were received with 
so much favor that at its conclusion he was 
engaged to deliver another course the succeeding 
winter, but he was then doing his Master's work 
in a higher sphere. 



291- REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

January 9 he began his course of twelve lec- 
tures in his own church, which were also received 
with much favor. On the eighteenth he con- 
ducted the religious services at the Boston 
Theatre, the subject of his discourse being, 
" How every One can find and keep the Path 
in Life which God appoints." 

March 3 he gave " A Summer in Switzerland," 
illustrated by the stereopticon, at the Union Hall, 
Boylston street, and later also, for' the Home 
Club in East Boston. 

Union Fast Day services were held in the 
Universalist Church, and Mr. Cudworth offered 
the invocation and announced the first hymn. 
The sermon was by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Potter. 
In the afternoon a union prayer meeting was 
held in the church, led by Dr. Twitchell of the 
Orthodox Church. In the evening a similar one 
was held in the Central Square Baptist Church. 

April 3 he gave in Everett his illustrated lec- 
ture upon the Passion Play, "which was ren- 
dered very impressively, and with much religious 
appreciation." 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 295 

Fast Day evening, April 5, an entertainment 
was given in the lecture room by the Willing 
Workers, and on the seventeenth and eighteenth 
the Juvenile Singing Class, still under Mr. Cud- 
worth's charge, gave the operetta of the " Flower 
Queen." 

May 1 . a May day festival was given, with 
readings, music and tableaux, "The Hanging of 
Crane " being finely rendered ; on the twenty- 
second, twenty-third and twenty-fourth, the spring 
fair and festival was held, and the cantata of 
" The Haymakers " given each evening. 

The Sunday-school held its picnic at High- 
land Lake Grove, Norfolk, on June 9, and a 
strawberry festival, the closing Sabbath-school 
festival of the season, was held on the evening 
of the eighteenth. The Sunday-school anniversary 
was held on the twenty-fourth. 

His summer course of Sunday evening lectures 
at Union Hall was commenced on June 3, 
and a supplementary course, by request, con- 
tinued, which did not close till September 30. 
Besides this he gave some Sunday afternoon 



296 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

" talks " at the Soldiers' Home in Chelsea, which 
were highly appreciated. He preached in his 
own church every Sunday morning, and con- 
ducted his prayer meeting Friday evening. His 
willing soul was outrunning the body, but he 
could not have done differently and remained 
himself. 

The following letter tells its own story : 

Leeds, Eng., Aug. 1, 1883. 
Rev. Mr. Cudworth — Dear Sir: — Although a perfect 
stranger to you, I take the liberty of asking the favor of 
your autograph in the little birthday text book which you 
will receive by post from a friend of mine in Brooklyn, 
N. Y. My excuse for so doing is that I arrived in East 
Boston about ten months since, a confirmed atheist, and 
that, owing largely to the influence of your earnest preach- 
ing, I left that place after a residence of six months, very 
much shaken in my opinions. I then proceeded to New 
York, where, following up the instinct you awakened, I 
attended several meetings of the Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation, and am happy to say that life has a new, bright 
meaning for me, and if not quite a Christian, I am at 
least a believer in a Supreme Power which makes for right- 
eousness, and governs all things well. You will now not 
be surprised that I desire your autograph. Indeed, if I 
might be so bold as to beg a portrait of you ->— as prob- 
ably I shall never meet you again — my wife, who also 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 297 

heard you, and I, would esteem it a great kindness. I 
remain, sir, with sincere respectful regards, 

Yours very truly, 

F. H. D. 

October 3 a musical and literary entertain- 
ment was held in the lecture room for the bene- 
fit of the primary department of the Sunday- 
school. The Massachusetts Total Abstinence So- 
ciety had sought his services during the year, 
but he had become so much engaged in his il- 
lustrated lectures that he had neither time nor 
strength for others ; but he was planning, at the 
time of his death, soon to be present at one of 
the Sunday afternoon temperance meetings. The 
programmes for the Christmas fair and festival, 
to be held December 11, 12 and 13, were al- 
ready printed under his supervision, and even 
those for a third course of illustrated lectures in 
his own church, to commence January 8, 1884, 
were both in the house when his body, without 
the great soul, was brought in for the last time. ' 
And I, when my lone heart cries out in its 
bereavement, think, 



298 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

Up above in his grand repose 
. One sees it all, and He knows. 

A Sorrowful Thanksgiving Day in E. Boston. 

Shortly before twelve o'clock yesterday fore- 
noon the community of East Boston, was startled 
by a report that Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, 
pastor of the Unitarian Church of Our Father, 
the best known and oldest clergyman in contin- 
ual service in East Boston, had dropped dead 
while assisting in the observance of Thanksgiving 
services in the Maverick Congregational Church. 
The news spread like wild-fire from house to 
house, and in hundreds of families, preparations 
for Thanksgiving dinners were suspended, while 
the heads thereof, and even the children, dis- 
cussed the calamity, and on every hand, in 
street and in house, the deepest regrets were 
expressed at the sudden death of one who was 
so universally beloved and respected. Mr. Cud- 
worth, at a quarter before eleven, in the minister's 
room at the church, was never in more cheerful 
spirits. It appears that for several years it has 
been the custom of the Protestant churches of 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 



2 59 



East Boston to unite in a union service on 
Thanksgiving Day, and in accordance with that 
custom, the services of yesterday were held with 
the Maverick Congregational Society. A large 
assemblage was present. Rev. Mr. Scott, of the 
Presbyterian Church, made the invocation and an- 
nounced the hymn, 

My faith looks up to thee, 
Thou lamb of Calvary. 

Mr. Cudworth at once entered into the singing 
with his whole soul. The Rev. Mr. Bates then 
read the 147th Psalm, and when he closed with 
the words, " Praise ye the Lord," Mr. Cudworth 
caught up their spirit in opening his prayer and 
said : " Let us pray and render our praises to 
the Lord. 

We thank Thee our Heavenly Father, that we have met 
to worship Thee on this Thanksgiving Day. We thank 
Thee that from the eastern coast of Maine to the western 
shores of California the people are worshiping Thee. Our 
fathers worshiped Thee. Whenever they had seasons of 
joy and thanksgiving they met to thank Thee ; whenever 
they suffered disaster and defeat they implored Thy aid. 
We, Thy children, would thank Thee to day for the pro- 



300 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

fusion of Thy blessings. We thank Thee for such a glori 
ous ancestry. We would remember before Thee the many 
blessings and mercies which we have received, for we 
realize that they all come from Thee. [A moment's pause.] 
I feel — [A shorter pause.] I — must — stop. 

With this he tottered and fell. Messrs. Bates 
and Scott both sprang to him, physicians were 
summoned, but the faithful soul had gone to 
God on the wings of prayer. The congregation 
were awed into silence, and rising with bowed 
heads, seemed reverently to wait, until told 
there would be no service, when they slowly de- 
parted for their homes. The body was taken to 
the house of his sister, No. 3 Wesley street, 
where it remained until Saturday noon, when 
after a touching prayer by Rev. Mr. Bates, it 
was taken to his church under guard of his 
loving friends of the G. A. R., * where it was 
seen by the public from one p. m. till after ten. 
It is estimated that not less than twelve thou- 
sand persons passed before the mortal remains 
of the sainted dead, each pausing an instant to 
drop a tear or breathe a farewell over one whose 
life in East Boston during the past thirty-two 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 301 

years has been one of self-sacrificing devotion to 
the cause of religion and charity. 

At half-past two the Sabbath-school held a 
memorial service in the lecture room. The plat- 
form was draped in black and white, and the 
organ at which their superintendent had so often 
presided, leading the singing for his Sunday- 
school, was heavily draped in black, a picture 
of Mr. Cudworth occupying a prominent position 
in front, and below it a sheaf of wheat. An oil 
portrait of Mr. Cudworth, hanging on the wall, 
was also draped. Hon. Henry B. Hill, assistant 
superintendent, addressing the school, remarked : 
"You have met to look upon the dead form 
whose living face has always been a benediction. 
I now introduce one whom you all know, who 
will direct the services of the afternoon, Rev. S. 
H. Winkley." 

The Service of Death, commencing, " I am the 
resurection and the life," was read by Mr. 
Winkley, after which the hymn commencing 

How sweet to be allowed to pray, 



302 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

was sung. The clergyman and school then read 
a responsive exercise, followed by the Lord's 
Prayer in unison, and another hymn was sung, 
after which Mr. Winkley made the following ad- 
dress : 

The first word which is generally heard on the depart- 
ure of a loved one is discouraging, for it is a word of 
loss. When there came to you and to me the announce- 
ment that our dear one was gone, we were told that he 
was dead. Of course with our habit of looking through 
" the gates ajar," and seeing the beyond, the word has 
become very limited in its meaning ; to many persons never- 
theless, death is still the " king of terrors." If I can succeed 
in making you feel that your loved one is not dead, it 
would be what he would like if he were here, and I 
strongly suspect that he may be. As for the body, it was 
intended it should die ; but this is an every-day affair 
with all of us. The body which any one of us had when 
we were born, is not the one in which we dwell to-day. 
We are told that we have a new body once in seven 
years, and as this change is imperceptible, it must be 
gradual and constant. You and I have not the same 
bodies that we had a week ago. If death means dissolu- 
tion, those former bodies have died ; in fact the bodies 
we now have are dying daily; but "while the outward 
perishes, the inward is renewed day by day." This being 
so, when I look into your faces I do not see you, I only 
see your garment; or to use a Scriptural phrase, I only 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 303 

see the tabernacle or tent in which you dwell. If you 
were looking through a telescope or a microscope, or were 
using a telephone, I should not confound you with these 
instruments. Some one might take them all away, and yet 
you would remain ; so the eye or the ear may be taken away 
and yet the man is left. The house may be destroyed in 
which he dwells, and yet he remains. So generous is our 
Heavenly Father, that he leaves us not houseless when 
such an event occurs ; " for if this earthly tabernacle be 
dissolved," a heavenly one is provided for us. Then "let 
the dust return to earth as it was," while we continue to 
love him whom the Father has given immortal life. And 
even as to the earthly body, let us remember that as 
mothers take the clothes which the older children have 
outgrown and make them over for the younger, so our 
Heavenly Father changes into new forms of beauty and 
use all the materials that have composed these fleshly gar- 
ments. But where is the loved one ? He would reply in 
the words of his Teacher and of ours, " In my Father's 
house are many mansions"; and as there was a place pre- 
pared for me, certainly in the heart of my mother, when 
[ was brought into this world, so no less was there a 
place prepared for me there, and as surely was I looked 
for. But there is to be a funeral ? Yes, and no. When 
Socrates was about to suffer death, a friend asked him 
how he would be buried. Socrates replied, "Just as you 
please, if you can but catch me." Turning to other 
friends he said, "He confounds me with my body; that 
you may inter as you please ; I shall not stay with you, 
but go to enjoy the felicity of the blessed." So would 
our friend say to us. He might add, as your fathers and 



304 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

mothers waited for you here, I will wait for you there; 
for if he has cared so much for you here, he will care 
much more for you where he now is. The very atmos- 
phere of that region is caring for others — that is, loving. 
Therefore do not pain his angelic heart by any weeping 
that implies a doubt of that. The funeral will only be to 
treat sacredly what he has left — his body. Through the 
whole of that service our hearts should say, While we will 
give up what he has left, we will with a strong affection hold 
on to our friend. This church was his home, and nobody 
can question his love for you or your love for him ; 
doubtless you intend to continue in that love. How shall 
it be manifested ? You might put your pennies together 
and erect a beautiful monument — that would be transient. 
There is a better way ; do . not be dilatory in his work. 
Come with more interest than ever. By study and prac- 
tice learn to be more efficient teachers and more diligent 
students. It is not enough, however, that you are faithful 
as teachers and pupils here only; he is expecting you to 
fight well life's battle, to gain the Christian's victory, and 
finally to hear the " Well done !" He therefore wants you 
to look up to the Everlasting Father and say, " Here, 
Lord, I give myself away;" and this not for yourselves 
alone ; let him have increasing joy because through your 
intelligent love-labor, others shall have the same spirit of 
Christ, and be his. This is the only satisfactory monu- 
ment you can erect to him. In this way we shall know 
he is not dead; we shall never think of him as dead; we 
shall indeed miss him, and that is right. I recently saw 
a mother grieving because her daughter was going a long 
way off to school. " O, I shall miss her so much," she 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 305 

said. " Why, then, do you let her go ? ! ' was asked. " Be- 
cause it will be better for her, and for all of us," she 
replied. So I say to you, that it will be better for him, 
and for all of us, that he should go. "We shall miss him 
no less, but we will rejoice more in his joy than sorrow 
for our loss. 

And now will you please unite with me in prayer? 

Mr. Winkley then offered an impressive prayer, 
after which the hymn, 

Life is not a fleeting shadow, 

was sung, and the benediction pronounced. The 
members of the Sunday-school then repaired to 
the church and took a last look at their loved 
superintendent. 

A second visit of the angel Death! Mr. Lewis 
G. Smith, assistant sexton of the church, and 
secretary of the Sabbath-school, had been for 
some time troubled with heart-disease. On the 
death of his pastor, whom he had previously 
told the writer he loved better than any one 
else in the world, he said he hardly dared look 
at him, fearing it would bring on a heart spasm ; 
but on Saturday, when the Sabbath-school as- 



306 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

sembled, he was found at his post, and soon 
after complained of feeling unwell and was ad- 
vised to go home. He started from the Havre 
street entrance, and friends, who were watching 
him, saw him throw out his hands and fall. He 
was brought immediately into the lecture room, 

and a physician summoned, but the spirit had 

• 

left its frail tenement, and was hastening after 

its loved friend gone before. His funeral took 

place Tuesday afternoon, from the church, Rev. 

R. P. Bush of Everett officiating. The same 

quartette which had sung so touchingly at the 

obsequies of the dear pastor also sang at his. 

He too was buried at Woodlawn, and the same 

Grand Army, of which he was a member, lent 

its sympathetic aid. There were beautiful flowers, 

and his broadcloth-covered casket was draped by 

the American flag he had fouget to uphold. 

" Sad indeed was the concourse of people who 

on Sunday, December 2, took up its way to the 

Unitarian Church of Our Father, on Meridian 

street, where amid the fragrant flowers he loved 

so well, lay all that was mortal of him whom 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 3C7 

to know was to love and admire. Even nature, 
that ofttimes stern disregarded seemed to fully 
appreciate the sadness of the occasion, and in 
common with the multitude, gave vent to its 
tears. The sombre-tolling bells, the sadly half- 
masted flags and banners, dripping in the rain, 
faces wetter still with tears, thronging mourners 
from ever}' class and organization, including the 
civic, military and ecclesiastical bodies, with every 
demonstration of loss, proclaimed the obsequies 
of that one man who could draw into his per- 
sonality so many and varying affections. Volumes 
might be written concerning his life-work in this 
community where he had lived and labored, but 
the best testimonial to his work was the univer- 
sal outpouring of the people who, despite the 
inclement weather, stood for hours upon the 
sidewalk and awaited in respectful silence the 
moving of the cortege. The waiting multitude 
was not composed of any particular sect, class 
or creed, but was made up of representatives 
from every walk of life. Little children who 
had learned of the good man, had heard 



308 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

his pleasant words, felt his hand placed in 
tenderness upon their childish heads, as they 
looked up into his kindly face, young men and 
women for whom he entertained all the loving 
feeling of a father, who had listened to his 
words of counsel, and treasured them in their 
hearts as they began the battle of life, middle- 
aged men and women who had grown up under 
his preaching and whose counsel had proven an 
anchor to them as they encountered the storms of 
affliction and faced the rough winds of trouble, 
the aged to whom came from him the words of 
consolation and hope, all actuated by the same 
sentiment of affection, came spontaneously to pay 
their last tribute of respect to the Christian sol 
dier and citizen. At the Church of Our Father 
might be found the detail of faithful comrades 
who with Commander Dalton had guarded the 
remains of their loved chaplain during the lonely 
vigils of the night. 

" The appearance of the church indicated the 
presence of loving friends in the artistic display 
of numerous floral offerings. Festoons of black 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 309 

alpaca hung from the wall back of the pulpit, 
over the pulpit, and about the front of the organ, 
and across the latter was a black velvet gold- 
figured banner, bearing the words in silver, ' Our 
Honored Dead.' This device was the contribution 
of Colonel William Beals. The floral tributes 
were arranged around the pulpit, directly in front 
of which was the casket — in which lay the 
body clad in the suit that he last wore in 
the pulpit, looking remarkably lifelike — and sur- 
mounted by a draped silken flag. A crayon por- 
trait of the dead hung over the casket, and on 
the latter was placed an excellent photographic 
likeness. 

" The following were floral tributes — probably 
the most beautiful ever seen in East Boston : 
Open Bible, prepared of the rarest and choicest 
exotics, with the word ' Brother ' across the face. 
Very beautiful. From Miss A. M. Cudworth, v 
sister of the deceased. Shield, with sword across \ 
face ; word ' Victory ; ' beneath, an open book, 
with words, ' I must stop.' From the Young 
Men's Social Union. Pillow, words, ' Joseph 



310 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Hooker Post 23, G. A. R.' Corps badge, from 
First Regiment veterans, with figure one in purple. 
Corps badge, from Company B., Union Guards, 
East Boston, in white immortelles ; letter ' B.' 
Pillow, Masonic emblems in the centre, from 
Mount Tabor Lodge F. and A. M. Crescent, 
with star above, from Eastern Star Lodge, 
I. O. O. F. Pillow, with letters 'W. W.', from 
the Willing Workers. Lyre, word ' Rest.' From 
the Union Circle. Floral basket and beautiful 
bouquet, from the Young Ladies' Circle. Cross 
and crown, resting over picture of deceased, and 
a cross and two large bouquets, from Mr. and 
Mrs. R. M. Barnard. Star, from Mr. and Mrs. 
William G. Ham. Sheaf of wheat, from Mr. and 
Mrs. T. G. Snow. Cross, from Mrs. Washington 
Snelling. Pillow, with word ' Prayer,' from Mrs. 
Maxwell Reed. Wreath of ivy leaves, made from 
leaves growing on the walls of the church, from 
Deacon and Mrs. George O. Parker. Cross and 
wreath of rosebuds, Young Men's Christian Union. 
Bunches of violets, rosebuds, and other personal 
tributes. These were arranged on the platform, 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 



3" 



on and about the pulpit. The sister and imme- 
diate friends of the family occupied pews in the 
right centre, the remainder being occupied by 
military organizations. On the left centre front 
were the officers of the church, the officers of 
the Young Men's Social Union, the officers of 
the Union Sewing Circle, the officers of the 
Young Ladies' Sewing Circle, and the officers of 
the Willing Workers, the remainder of the section 
being occupied by representatives of Governor 
Butler's staff and officers of military organizations. 
On the right side sat representatives of the Bos- 
ton Young Men's Christian Union, and Phoenix 
Temple of Honor ; and the teachers in the Sab- 
bath-school occupied the wing pews on either 
side of the pulpit. Representatives of the press, 
members of the Jeffries Club, officers of Mount 
Tabor Lodge F. and A. M., and of Eastern 
Star Lodge I. O. O. F., were also on the right. 
The members of Joseph Hooker Post 23 were 
the first of the Grand Army men to assemble. 
Soon after a delegation of Dahlgreen Post 2 of 
South Boston arrived, followed by Theodore Win- 



312 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

throp Post 35, of Chelsea, Commander Charles 
O. Fellows, accompanied by their drum corps, 
numbering in all one hundred and twenty-five, 
and a little later by John A. Hawes Post 159 
of East Boston ; then a delegation from John A. 
Andrew Post 15 of Boston, came in a body. 
At eleven-thirty Department Commander Evans 
of the G. A. R. arrived with his staff, of whom 
there were present Senior Vice-Commander Bill- 
ings, Inspector Sawyer, Comrade Tobin of the 
Council of Administration, and Aids-de-Camp Cush- 
ing, Beck, O'Brien, Leutz and Simonds. Briga- 
dier General Wales and staff of the First Brigade, 
and Colonel Wellington of the First Regiment, 
and staff, came over just before noon and went 
directly to the church. Adjutant-General Dalton 
and Assistant Inspector-General Stephenson, repre- 
senting His Excellency the Governor, reached 
the armory at eleven-thirty, and were conducted 
by Past-Commander J. H. Barnes, to their seats 
in the church. The First Massachusetts Regi- 
ment Veteran Association, carrying their old colors 
draped in black, commanded by Major Thomas 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 313 

R. Matthews, president of the association, marched 
into the square just before noon, two hundred 
strong. This was Chaplain Cudworth's old com- 
mand, and the large turnout denoted the respect 
they felt for their old chaplain. At noon Post 23 
marched out of the hall, and with the other 
posts and delegations of the Grand Army in rear, 
escorted the Veteran Association to the church. 
Such as could obtained seats in the church, while 
the others marched into the spacious vestry below. 
Colonel James F. Farrell representing the Union 
Veteran army, George H. Patch, Past Department 
Commander of the Massachusetts G. A. R., and 
Col. W. X. Olin and Maj. G. W. Sanger, of the 
First Regiment and staff, were also present. On 
the platform were the following clergymen : Rev. 
S. H. Winkley of the Bulhnch Place Unitarian 
Church; Rev. L. B. Bates of Meridian Street 
M. E. Church and Bethel; Rev. C. D. Hills 
of Saratoga Street M. E. Church ; Rev. J. L. 
Scott of the First Presbyterian Church; Rev. J. 
H. Richardson of Central Square Baptist Church; 
Rev. N. B. Jones, Jr., of Trinity Baptist Church ; 



314 REV - WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

Rev. W. F. Potter of Central Square Universa- 
list Church ; Rev. R. Perry Bush of Everett Uni- 
versalist Church; Rev. J. E. Twitchell, D. D., 
of Maverick Congregational Church ; Rev. N. H. 
Chamberlain of St. John's Episcopal Church, and 
Rev. W. H. Munroe of Christ Episcopal Church. 
At high mass, at the Church of the Most Holy 
Redeemer, the pastor, Rev. Father McCarthy, 
spoke in the most feeling terms on the life and 
worth of the late Rev. Mr. Cudworth, and of 
his estimable qualities as a man. He felt sure 
that the sympathy of his congregation was with 
the flock of the deceased clergyman in their sad 
affliction. 

The obsequies at the church were commenced 
by an organ voluntary, and the singing of 

Abide with me, 
by a favorite quartette of Mr. Cudworth — Miss 
S. E. H. Munroe, soprano; Mrs. J. L. Martin, 
contralto ; Mr. Henry Pew, tenor ; Mr. C. C. 
Roby, bass. The Temple Quartette and the Weber 
Quartette tendered their services if required. The 
opening prayer was by Rev. J. L. Scott : 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 315 

Father, wilt thou abide with us ? The darkness deepens, 
but there is light beyond it. We call upon Thee be- 
lieving that Thou wilt hear Thy children's call upon Thee 
to-day. Wilt Thou not have compassion for them in their 
grief? We are far down in the valley and the darkness 
of death is upon us ; but we look up towards Thee. 
There is the stillness of absence about us, but beyond we 
hear the voice of our dead. There is much, O God, for 
which we thank Thee. We thank Thee for the stability 
of trust ; although the preacher is gone, his words re- 
main : although the servant has departed, his service is 
everlasting. We thank Thee for what Thou hast been to 
him. Thou wast his shield in war, and exceeding great 
reward in peace. Thou wast his companion at home and 
in foreign lands, and now Thou hast not permitted him 
to see death, but in a moment, in the twinkling of an 
eye, he was changed, and with Thee. We thank Thee for 
what Thou hast been to us through him. We thank Thee 
for having been permitted to come in contact with this 
life; its breadth; its loveliness; its charity; its consecra 
tion to Thee and Humanity. Father, all of us feel we 
are near to Thee this day because of him. Let Thy 
blessing rest upon this church ; although its under shep- 
herd is dead, its Chief Shepherd lives. The words that 
they have heard from him; words of Christ and faith, 
thy Spirit recall them; then he being dead, yet will 
speak. Wilt Thou be with the Sunday-school ? Thy ser- 
vant gave much of his life to it. Stamp, we pray Thee, 
thine image upon their hearts while young. Be with Thy 
servants who have met here to lay away their brother to 
rest. As we saw him fall upon the field, may we hear 



316 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Thy voice saying, " The night cometh." Consecrate this 
hour to Thyself ; fill it with thy presence ; help each 
heart here to-day and forever. Amen. 

Response. The Lord's Prayer was rendered by 
the quartette. Rev W. H. Potter then read the 
following appropriate selections from the Scriptures, 
after which 

Where shall we make his grave? 
was sung by the quartette. 

But if a man die shall he live again ? 

I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth 
in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. 

Whoso liveth and believeth in me shall never die. As 
I live so shall ye live also. 

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall 
also bear the image of the heavenly. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him 
that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace ; that 
bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; 
that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth ! 

They that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the 
firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness, as 
the stars for ever and ever. 

And when the chief shepherd shall appear, they shall 
receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 

Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man 
fallen this day in Israel ? 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 317 

All ye that are about him, bemoan him ; and all ye 
that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, 
and the beautiful rod ! 

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, 
and of faith : and much people was added unto the 
Lord. 

When the ear heard him then it blessed him, and when 
the eye saw him it gave witness to him : 

Because he delivered the poor that cried, and the father- 
less, and him that had none to help him. 

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came 
upon him: and he caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 

He put on righteousness and it clothed him : his judg- 
ment was as a robe and a diadem. 

He was eyes to the blind, and feet was he to the 
lame. 

He was a father to the poor : and the cause which he 
knew not he searched out. 

Unto him men gave ear, and waited, and his speech 
dropped upon them. 

And they waited for him as for the rain ; and they 
opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 

He chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a 
king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners. 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall 
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or naked- 
ness, or peril, or sword ? Nay, in all these things we are 
more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor 
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor 
things to come, 



318 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be 
able to separate us from the love of God, which is in 
Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, un- 
movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for- 
asmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the 
Lord. 

Rev J. E. Twitchell's remarks were as follows : 

Dearly Beloved, I stand here for a moment as a mourner 
with you. It falls to my lot to express the sympathy I 
feel for this church in their affliction and for this com- 
munity in the great grief which has fallen upon us all ; 
to express the spmpathy of the Maverick Church, of 
which I am the pastor, and to recall to your minds the 
very suggestive and thrilling words which were the last 
spoken by our dear brother, the last he ever uttered upon 
earth, — " I must stop." I am not sure that at this time 
words are wise ; I am very sure that many words would 
not be wise. There is a voice in everything I see around 
me ; a voice, which, although inarticulate, is perfectly 
understood. A voice I hear in these emblems ; a voice I 
hear in these beautiful floral offerings ; a voice I hear 
from this great sea of sad upturned faces ; a voice I 
hear in that silent casket ; that voice is beautiful and 
sweet and takes away all sorrow. The voice that speaks 
out of these surrounding scenes, and especially the voice 
that speaks out of these beautiful words from God's holy 
writ, which my brother has read, is more expressive than 
words that I can offer from these poor lips of mine. I 
have witnessed death scenes in all their forms; in the 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 319 

quiet of home with tender watchers ; in hospitals amid a 
great crowd of sufferers, and out on the battlefield amid 
the dead and dying ; I have participated in funeral cere- 
monies during my ministry — but I assure you, brethren, 
that I never yet sat in the midst of scenes so impressive 
as those in which I have sat during this past week. I 
know that these scenes which pain and thrill us are 
the commissions of the Father who loves his church and 
children, and loves them better than can be expressed by 
human lips. Yes, I know that, and I know that as 
our brother has expressed it in his prayer, although the 
under shepherd is taken away, the Great Chief is not, 
and that Heart that beats as no other heart has ever beat 
still throbs for humanity. So out of - the shadows and 
deep griefs of this hour, with bowed heads and lamenting 
hearts, we lift ourselves to Him who reignejth in the 
heavens and in the earth and by whose permission alone 
these sad calamities come upon men, and whose sweet 
sustaining grace shall be found enough for the lowest of 
earth. Truly a great and good man has gone. I had but 
one short year's connection with him in the ministry, but 
I tell you the solemn truth, dear friends, when I say to 
you that my heart, on the first vision I had of this true 
brother, went out to him. There are few upon this earth 
who would gather mourners such as are gathered here 
to-day. A long stream of persons poured into this church 
yesterday afternoon from one o'clock until ten o'clock at 
night, and here is assembled a vast number, and in the 
hall below is another gathering as large as this waiting 
to be addressed by us. There is nothing to be compared 
with it. Do you know, dear friends, that men live most 



7,2 O REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

sometimes when they die ? As I said this morning in my 
own pulpit, this earth is not yet eased of its sacrificial 
debt. Parents die for children, children die for parents, 
and pastors die for people. We are so interlaced in these 
human hearts and human associations, that one falls out 
of the ranks that the other may steady himself against 
his brother and march on to victory. In it we begin to 
live, and the testimony of this community since Thursday 
last has been concerning our dear brother who has gone 
to his reward. I could take you up and down these 
streets to-day, in attics and in cellars, and give you the 
hand of widows and orphans, who are bowed in deep 
grief, and whose sense of a heavy loss is as keen as is 
that of the people and officers of this church. I repeat, 
it is grand to give one's life to God, and grand to lie 
down with a prayer of thanksgiving upon our lips, and 
grand to open our eyes upon the great assembly of 
the Church of the First Born and see the angels of wel- 
come waiting for us. There is no time for eulogy this 
afternoon in the five minutes allotted to us to bring our 
tributes and lay them here. May God bless all the 
churches and people of all conditions in the city ; may 
God bless all the churches in this community, in whose 
prosperity our dear brother has been interested; God bless 
the poor of this community who have lost one of their 
best earthly friends, and through these great tidal waves 
along which our little boat is drifting to the further 
shore, may He who can command the waves put his hand 
upon the helm and safely pilot each one of us through 
this world to that blessed land into which our brother has 
entered and in which his glory is beginning to shine. 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 3 2 I 

Rev. R. Perry Bush then made the following 
address : 

As I have rejoiced with you, so come I to-day to weep 
with you and to entwine my gratitude to him with that 
chaplet of endearing fame to which so many have come 
to contribute. It is but a short time since that day and 
hour when you gathered to rejoice with him, when he 
was so suddenly stricken down, and to-day as I come 
here, I turn my memory leaves and my heart aches for 
myself and for you. Upon our streets, in our homes, 
everywhere that we turn, hearts are sad and eyes are red. 
We meet to take each other by the hand in silence, 
struck dumb by our bereavement, and not only by our 
firesides, but out in widening circles in which his presence 
and memory have gone, among many and many a com- 
munity there is . sadness and gloom. We have lost a 
father — a father most kind and ever sympathetic; a father 
with loving words and tender smile for his every child; 
a father with a heart big enough to take in all classes 
and conditions given ; a father who taught all to love him 
and beneath whose smile our hearts took courage and 
went forth to do God's work. Few there be who number 
among the mourners so many classes and conditions of 
men. I stood but yesterday amid a long line of sorrow- 
ing ones passing before this altar to look for the last 
time upon this sacred dust, and I could number among 
that sorrowful throng the sons and daughters of honor 
and affluence mingling their tears with those of poverty 
and degradation, each class sending its sad representative. 
Not only has this church and its people lost a father, 



322 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

but he whom we love, the father of this community, was 
a father to all. He never refused a call for assistance 
from whatever source, no matter how much it interfered 
with his cherished plans of pleasure. Could one tell to-day 
of the kindly acts of his life — could one tell the story of 
the gratitude and sorrow his death has caused obscure 
hearts, it would be the greatest tribute that earth could 
yield ; it would be bespeaking what we all feel, but what the 
world knows not altogether of; that Christian ministering 
which found hearts to help as well as to lift up in kindness. 
O, to-day as we look upon his face, it is seen to be in 
quiet and beautiful repose ; it is bright and beautiful and 
glad. And he desired so much to go in the midst of his 
labors, ere old age had bowed his head or made his 
steps to falter ; God, by that act, which so well became 
his consecrated soul, took him home while in communion; 
the prayer began on earth was completed, amid the most 
joyful hosannas around the throne of God. If we see it 
with the eye of the Father, it is grand and beautiful, but 
it is hidden by a cloud to those who look through tears. 
They cannot altogether bless the Father's hand. We know 
that he whom we love is here ; we feel it in our hearts 
and we trust God and bless him. How grand to-day in 
union service and on Thanksgiving Day, bespeaking that 
broad catholic spirit which allied itself to every soul that 
worshiped Christ and God and that deep thankfulness 
which taught all to look up in gratitude for the blessings 
of life. May we not mingle with our sorrow some rejoic- 
ing ? If we look up through tears, may we not with 
thankful hearts turn to him in praise and thank him that 
he gave us the gift, though now he has taken it away ? 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 323 

and may we not remember that he will love us the more 
appreciably and embody in our lives the blessings of our 
friend who has gone ? If the star in far distant space 
dropped from its position and ceased to radiate, its light 
would still come forth to bless and gladden the heart of 
man. So shall it be with him. We love until time shall 
be no more. The light of that life shall find reflection in 
our hearts, and so fully shall it be reflected, that youth, 
age and manhood shall tell the story of his golden light 
of goodness until time shall be no more. God grant, my 
friends, that the spirit that rises again may linger still to 
bless us ; that its memories may remain to charm us in 
our dark hours and bind us to that God whom he ever 
trusted until that Father shall lead us forth to light. 

The quartette then sang, 

Pastor, thou art gone to rest. 
Rev. Mr. L. B. Bates remarked as follows: 

He has gone to God. He sent for and took him. He 
did not die ; he was translated. He did not know death ; 
the change from the mortal to the immortal was so quick. 
The prayer he had offered and expressed hundreds of 
times was granted ; his work done he was called to his 
reward. To the homes of East Boston it is a vision. In 
all our homes there is a death to-day — Protestant and 
Catholic alike. The little children who are in our streets 
wipe their tears ; the strong men who bolted their doors 
last evening, the aged men and women say, " God help 
us now," and the Father in the vaulted heaven answers, 



324 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

"I will." The peace comes which was promised by the 
Master when he said, " My peace give I unto thee. In 
this world ye shall have, tribulation, but in your heart, 
peace; my peace I leave with you." A few moments ago 
it was my privilege, in the room below, to look into the 
eyes of four or five hundred men — soldiers, the remnant 
of the old Massachusetts First, who, in the field, in the 
battle, in the camp, in the hospital, and some of them in 
prison, were ministered to by that man. As I left them 
to come up here, one man grasped my hand and said, 
" I have come thirty miles through the rain to-day to look 
on my old chaplain ; when I was sick he ministered to 
me." If the city of Boston ever buried a missionary, here 
is one they have to bury to-day — a pastor, a minister, a 
teacher and a missionary, and I am glad to stand here 
this afternoon in this presence and say in "behalf of 
citizens to this church, this congregation, and to the be- 
reaved family, you have our heartfelt sympathy. Three 
business men called at my house yesterday, attending no 
church, and belonging to no religious society, and standing 
upon the doorstep tremblingly said, " Mr Bates, is there 
nothing we can do to smooth over this sorrow ? " I said 
to them, " I thank you with all my heart in behalf of 
the bereaved. All that you can do is to go and pray ; " 
and those three men voiced the hearts of all the business 
men in East Boston. Eighteen years ago in a little chap- 
lain's tent, it was my privilege to form his acquaintance. He 
was chaplain of the First, and I of the Third Regiment 
in the State's service. Over five years we mingled to- 
gether. Coming to this place six years ago nearly, the 
second day, in a rainstorm, my bell rang. Going to the 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 325 

door this man stood there with his umbrella, and putting 
out his hand said, " Brother, I welcome you. I will be 
your friend so long as you stay," and I am glad to say, 
looking upon his dead face, that he kept his pledge. From 
that hour to the moment he fell, he was in my heart a 
true brother. As it has been well said, this is not an 
hour for eulogy. When our hearts are a little more quiet, 
and the shadows shall be dispelled and reveal the num- 
ber of spirits that mingle with him from among a battle- 
field and those homes of bereavement and sorrow, then 
we will think it over. When the clouds have past we 
will meet him where the Father and the Son are dwelling 
in infinite glory. 

The following is the address of Rev. S. H. 
Winkley : 

I have to say, dear friends, that I shall utter but few 
sympathetic words at this time, because another opportunity 
is to be given next Sunday to say what, perhaps, you 
think, after the request of my dear brother, ought to be 
said now. A few weeks ago a little boy from New Bed- 
ford came to my house and brought me a bulb. He said 
with a great deal of enthusiasm, " Now you just get a 
bowl and put some pebbles into it, and fill it with water, 
and put this bulb on the pebbles in the water in the bowl, 
and you will see not only the little leaves grow out at 
the top, but you will see the little roots go down amorg 
the pebbles in the bowl." Well, I did as he told me, and 
put the bulb on the pebbles in the water in the bowl 



326 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

and watched it for several days, not thinking that anything 
would come of it. One day I took a look at it, and 
saw a number of little white rootlets stretching out and 
going down, hugging those little pebbles, and then after a 
little while the leaves started up from the bulb, and the 
growth is being carried on by the great power of God to 
perfection. Less than threescore years ago God gave us a 
little human plant, and it began in pretty much the same 
way. The tendrils of his affection went out to the members 
of his home, and moved around their hearts, over which he 
grew for nourishment, and by and by schoolmates came, 
and increased, and the little plant began to weave himself 
about their very beings and moved them to himself ; and 
then in school, and in after life, until he had attained 
full manhood, up to the very last, the tendrils were going 
out from his heart and took hold of human hearts, taking 
nourishment into his soul from the lives of men. His 
knowledge came through his heart, and when he had 
grown greatest, it was mostly through his affection, and 
thus we saw him so good a man. He had read the story 
of the woman of Samaria, and had asked for the water 
of everlasting life. His tendrils reached down through the 
water of eternal life, and so he could lift others, and he 
heard and obeyed the voice, " As ye have done it unto 
the least of these ye have done it unto me." Now you 
say this destroys individuality. Not at all. Have you not 
sometimes been disposed to turn away from some child, 
and yet because you loved the father and mother, for 
their sake you diligently labored until at last you loved 
him for his own sake? Many a heart has learned to love 
the Master better when on some mission of mercy, and 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 7> 2 1 

in that way we can learn to love the great Master with a 
great love. Without the atmosphere, what could the plant 
do, and without that atmosphere which we call the Holy 
Spirit, that loving spirit which he took into heart at every 
breath, what could he have done? His inspiration was the 
atmosphere of what he did, and so he did on earth what 
prepared him for heaven. Without the sun, that beautiful, 
marvellous orb, ninety millions of miles away, my plant 
in the bowl would amount to nothing ; so without the 
love of the Everlasting Father, the foundation of all affec- 
tion, what could he have done ? It was the Father that 
warmed his heart and breathed into his spirit, sending 
him to the men, women and children who needed him. 
Every thing was there that was needed, and so he be- 
came this beautiful plant. It would shock him to hear 
you say he is dead. These are his remains, and he 
smiles now as he smiled back upon me before when I 
said things of this sort. He has gone away, but he lives 
in glory ; he has been transfigured and is more beautiful 
where he is now. The angels rejoice in his goodness 
and angel joy is greater over him who turneth the sin- 
ner from the error of his way. He has fallen into 
angel company as naturally as a scholar falls into 
school labors. And what, dear friends, would he say 
to you to-day ? To his brother Masons he would say, " Be 
better Masons ; " and there is not a Mason in this church 
who has a standard of character higher than is raised 
there. Let all live out to the end your pledges, as 
you have agreed, and he will be satisfied. Soldiers, what 
does Chaplain Cudworth say to you ? You have fought, 
have gained the victory, and are in possession of the re- 



328 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

suits, but will he not say to you, as a nation of men, that 
the best victory is that over sin, when peace and good 
will shall prevail the wide world over? What does he 
say to ministers of the Gospel ? O, brethren, be diligent 
in His business, that many souls may be enlightened and 
gathered into that kingdom of joy and peace. And then 
will He say, " Well done, good and faithful servants, 
enter into the joys of our Lord." 

The quartette then sang, by request, Mr. 
Cudworth's favorite hymn, 

Nearer, my God, to Thee. 

Rev. Mr. Winkley then made the concluding 
prayer : 

Our Heavenly Father, we come to thank Thee for the 
gift of this dear loved one whose life has been so full 
and precious upon the earth and whose entrance into 
eternal life has been so sudden and so glorious. We 
thank Thee that we do not mourn as those who have no 
hope, but while our hearts are sad, they are filled with 
joy from our interest in the beyond. We can also hear 
him say as did his Master, " If ye love me, ye would 
rejoice because I go to my Father, for my Father is 
greater than I." And so, dear Father, we do rejoice that 
none of Thy children die ; that all live unto Thee and 
that the love follows all from this life into the eternal 
life. And so to-day we thank Thee right in the midst 
of our tears; right in the centre of our loneliness; fully 






REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 329 

alive to and conscious of the greatness of our loss, that 
Thou hast opened the door ; that gates are not only ajar, 
but that we can see beyond the gates and that he has 
entered into his rest, the rest of angelic activity, the rest 
which remains to those who do Thy will in the everlast- 
ing life. May Thy blessing rest upon this solitary sister ; 
may she feel not at all as though she were deprived of 
a dear one, but that a mortal brother has become an im- 
mortal ; and so hand in hand by faith, and heart in 
heart by love, may she all the more do Thy will in life 
and so finish the journey which she has in life that she 
may indeed be the consecrated sister of charity, minister- 
ing to want in every form. and carrying benediction and 
joy in all her pathway. Bless, we pray Thee, these rela- 
tives, these members of the church, these members of the 
congregation, these teachers and the Sunday-school and all 
the dear pupils who gathered around him, as round a 
really spiritual father, and who learned of him to say 
" Our Father who art in Heaven," as perhaps many of them 
had never learned to do it before. It is not always those 
we find at our homes that prove our nearest relatives. 
It is the heart going out to our heart, and our heart 
going back into that heart, that makes up the actual family 
that shall live forever. So to this large number of rela- 
tives, just in proportion to the abundance of their 
ministry, — just in proportion to their faith, — they 
may say, it is all right. It may be a garden of Geth- 
semane ; it may be a cup full of bitterness to drink, but 
they drink it through kindly regard for him. If it had 
not been better that he should have gone, he would have 
remained with us ; and his going may be the very oppor- 



33 O REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

tunity for the spirit to descend in Pentacostal measure 
and so revive the work which he had in his heart. And 
the work may be done as he labored to have it. So 
bless them, Father, in this way that they shall feel that 
his mantle and obligations have been laid upon them to 
preach the everlasting gospel by which sin, ignorance and 
error shall pass away and the real faith in Christ shall 
complete the redemption of mankind. For this all these 
brothers of the different orders have come here to-day. 
Dear Father, many of their members have disappeared 
through the veil and he has joined them, and now may 
those who stay a little longer, who have a few more 
duties to discharge, a little more experience to accumu- 
late, a few more lessons to learn, and a little more ser- 
vice to render, whenever in thy Providence they shall be 
called, may they find brothers and sisters waiting for them. 
Father, as these shall take the last look of the hallowed 
remains, may they have in their minds and hearts one 
joyful and comforting memory — that they are not taking 
their last look of him, but will all meet in that eternal 
home where they will praise the Lamb forever and ever. 
Amen. 

The quartette then sang the " Sweet Bye and 
Bye " most touchingly, after which Rev. J. K. Rich- 
ardson pronounced the benediction. 

The lecture room and parish parlor below being 
filled with the military who could not find ac- 
commodation in the auditorium above, the clergy- 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 33 I 

men and quartette passed from church to lecture 
room with their sweet words of cheer to all who 
could be reached. Major Thomas R. Matthews 
of the Veteran Association presided. "Rev. L. 
B. Bates offered prayer, and for twenty minutes 
spoke to the soldiers specially of Rev. W. H. 
Cudworth as a chaplain in the army, and the 
great service he rendered to his State, country, 
and to the soldiers of his regiment, who loved 
him as a father, and will always hold him in 
grateful remembrance. Rev. N. B. Jones, Jr., 
referred to the spirit of beneficence which was 
a prominent characteristic of the deceased." 

Xo family was too humble, none too poor, none too 
miserable to command his presence and aid in time of 
need. He was always ready by day or night to minister 
to the suffering. His memory will be cherished by all 
these. They all join with you in mingling their tears of 
sorrow and affection. The entire community feel that they 
have lost a friend and a brother. You soldiers knew him. 
As a soldier and a chaplain you will cherish his memory 
while life lasts. We have all loved him. As ministers we 
have found in him a true Christian friend ; we deeply feel 
his loss, and join with you to-day in our expression of 
sorrow. But let us remember that while God has stricken 
him down, it is a blessed thing that he was spared suf- 



332 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

fering. When our time shall come may we hear from 
the Great Commander, " Well done, good and faithful ser- 
vants, enter into the joy of your Lord." 

The quartette then sang, 

Where shall we make his grave ? 

Rev. Dr. Twitchell was the third speaker. He 
said; 

I think I may say " Comrades," for T understand that 
you have seen service either in the army or navy. It 
was my privilege to have connection with the army during 
the late war, and to be able to be of some service in the 
presence of the sick and dying. I can therefore the bet- 
ter sympathize with you to-day. There are no ties so 
strong as those formed in times of war. We buckle our 
knapsacks and touch elbows to march out to fight, know- 
ing that ere nightfall some will die. So when one pure 
man marches with us, many a one says, " Chaplain, pray 
for me to-day." Death's shafts are flying to-day ; and your 
chaplain has fallen. It was in my church and my own 
pulpit. How gladly I would have caught him in my arms 
and prevented the fall if I could. Just above us lies the 
body that held a great sympathizing heart now gone to 
God. No matter whether or not your life be given to 
God, you love a Christian man. I know little of the 
other side, but I have been thinking these last three 
days, of the reunion in heaven — of the greetings of his 
comrades in arms. I have no question he has looked 
into the face of many a man who was with . him on the 



REV. WARREN H. CTJDWORTH. 333 

battlefield and that we shall clasp hands with him on the 
other side. Is it not glorious ? I stand before you a 
mourner bringing the sympathies of Maverick Church. Em- 
ulate his virtues, and so live that your lives will termin- 
ate in bliss. " It is not all of life to live." Look up, 
and through our tears we shall* see life. May God bless 
you all. 

Rev. N. H. Chamberlain, rector of St. John's 
Episcopal Church, remarked that he had been 
unexpectedly called upon to address the audience, 
but every soldier should be always ready to obey 
orders. He added : 

I remember listening to a young man some thirty years 
ago as he preached his first sermon. His body now lies 
cold and stark. There is something stately and imperial 
about death. Scenes on the battlefield are shocking, but 
the poorest living flesh that lies quivering on the battle- 
field testifies to a great deliverance, a mastery over storm, 
and rage, and agony. Our brother died at his post as a 
Soldier of the Cross and entered through the gates to 
life beyond. You may answer to a creed and call it true 
or false, but you cannot answer against a man who goes 
into hovels and kneels * down beside the sick and dying 
poor. A life of such devotion is always catholic ; always 
true. This man I am not here to eulogize, but I know one 
thing clearly, that there has been buried no man out of any 
community where the respect and sorrow are so deep and 
honest as they seem to be here. Do you think this man's 



334 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 



life ends with his ashes ? There are intelligent men who 
believe in annihilation, but do you? [A voice: "No."] 
Then I charge you for the rest of your lives to be loyal 
as he was loyal. If he cannot die here or hereafter; if 
he has just begun to live ; I challenge you, as you grow 
old and your comrades leave you, to hold in your hearts 
that the grave is but an avenue, and that this life, noble 
as you may make it, is but the portico and beginning of 
the life to come. Remember that in that life there is re- 
union and eternal felicity for true men. May the souls of 
the departed rest in peace. 

The quartette responded with the " Sweet Bye 
and Bye." Rev. R. Perry Bush continued : 

Men of the Grand Army: I belong to too young a gen- 
eration to have shared the dangers of the battlefield, but as 
a young man who has sat at the feet of the sainted dead, 
I may be permitted to say a few words of a true brother 
of your noble order, and a deeply loved friend in the 
day of sorrow. When you meet men you try them — not 
by outward form or semblance — and you will testify that 
when the hand of Warren H. Cudworth clasped yours it 
was that of an honest Christian man. You felt that his 
hand-clasp and smile meant something. I love every-day 
men who meet me face to face. In such love I always 
find religion ; I think it will not seem strange to you 
when I say the highest religion. You did not love the 
men whose silver-tongued oratory told others to go to the 
front, but you loved the man and his religion who went, and 
took his Christianity with him. Such we esteem Brother 



REV. WARREN" H. CUDWORTH. 335 

Cudworth. I came here to mourn with those who mourn. 
Let us never forget the example of his noble life, and so 
long as life shall last, let us endeavor to make it so grand, 
so noble, that we cannot die. God bless you, comrades in 
war and brothers in peace, and may the sentiment of 
your chaplain be ever with you to bless and to help. 



The last speaker was Rev. W. H. Munroe of 
Christ Episcopal Church. He said : 



I came here to say to you something about our de- 
parted friend and brother. If there was a man who had 
a large heart, that man was Warren H. Cudworth. If there 
was a man whose heart went out for all men, it was he. I 
doubt whether his place can ever be rilled. We hear of minute 
men. He was a minute man. No matter where he was, 
no matter what he was doing, when the call came to see 
a sick man, to bury a dead woman, no matter whether 
black or white, whether by night or day, that man obeyed 
the summons and went. I have often thought when I 
have seen him going about that he was willing to spend 
and be spent in his Master's service. How sudden his 
death ! but what a glorious transition. His very last mo- 
ments were spent in thanking God for his mercies. God 
took him home. Could he have stood on a higher plane 
then he did when called away? I feel that Warren H. 
Cudworth was a true member of the catholic church, one 
who knew no sectarianism. Catch his spirit. Live for 
Jesus as he did, and you will go as he did, to receive 
a crown of glory. 



336 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

The benediction was then pronounced by Mr. 
Munroe, and the "Comrades" to the number of 
several hundred, passed up-stairs to view the re- 
mains of their loved chaplain. 

It was touchingly sad and yet imposing to see 
this sincere tribute of respect, ^nd when the old 
colors of the regiment, under which he had 
marched, were borne by, with its reverent salute, 
the pent-up feelings were with difficulty re- 
strained. 

" At two o'clock the military with band and 
drum corps, under command of Major Rockwell, 
took up its line of position. The Grand Army 
of the Republic was formed on the left, and the 
First Massachusetts as a guard of honor sur- 
rounded the hearse. After the friends were 
seated in the carriages, the beautiful floral gifts 
were brought out and placed in an open landau, 
and the hearse drawn up in readiness to re- 
ceive its precious freight (his pall-bearers were 
representatives of the different organizations with 
which he was connected), and as the casket was 
borne from the entrance, Chief Marshal Dalton, 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 337 

taking off his hat, gave the command, " Salute ! " 
The military presented arms, the comrades and 
veterans lifted their hats, and amid the roll of 
the muffled drums the casket was placed in the 
hearse, and to the music of the ' In Memoriam 
Requiem,' by the band, the procession began 
its march. 

" Without pomp or pageantry, solemn and im- 
pressive as he would have wished it, the last 
sad rites were performed. Escorted through the 
streets which he had trod so often in his rounds 
of duty, amidst a throng of people who so often 
had listened to his pleasant voice, his body was 
borne to the silent city of the dead. After the 
body had been placed upon the bier, and the 
relatives and friends had gathered, Rev. Mr. 
Bush, standing at the head of the casket, offered 
a fervent prayer. He asked God to bless and 
sanctify the affliction, and to teach those present 
by the lesson of the life just ended to so live 
that they might reap the rich reward vouchsafed 
to him who had gone. He also asked that the 
blessing of God might rest upon the bereaved 



33% REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

sister, the afflicted friends and the veteran sol- 
diers, and that all might at last meet in the 
better land where partings are unknown. As 
the body lay there in the gathering twilight, sur- 
rounded by choicest flowers, and as those who 
had known him best remembered his glorious 
life-work, they could but accept the sentiment of 
the poet: 

From his dust the laurels bloom ; 
High they shoot and flourish free. 
Glory's temple is his tomb — 
Death is immortality. 

" During the final ceremonies at the grave the 
western horizon began to exhibit signs of an 
autumnal sunset, and as the comrades gathered 
for the last time around the narrow home of 
him who had been so near and dear to them, 
their faces were lighted by an almost superna- 
tural glow, and with a feeling of deep reverence, 
they raised their faces heavenward and mentally 
saluted their dead comrade who had gone to 
meet many of his former companions and join 
their roll call on the parade ground of eternity. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 339 

As the casket was lowered into its last resting 
place amid the roll of the muffled drums and 
the fifes playing PleyeFs Hymn, a rich red af- 
terglow lighted up the horizon, while above the 
new moon beamed forth its benediction. He 
died as he lived — in the harness; he died as he 
had often expressed the wish he might die — at 
his work in the house of God ; he died with the 
breath of thanksgiving on his lips ; he died after 
a life of wonderful mental and physical activity 
— working to the very last, and not until the 
final summons came could he be induced to 
say ' I must stop ; ' he died leaving a memory 
fragrant with deeds well done during a long' life 
of devotion to God and humanity. The grand- 
eur of his life was only equalled by the grand- 
eur of his death. His expressions of thanksgiving 
unfinished on earth have been completed above. 
Leaving a mortal congregation he joined the im- 
mortal choir in a holier and nobler service than 
that in which he was taking part when stricken. 
He leaves to a large circle of mourning friends, 
to his church and congregation who loved him 



34° REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

and whom he loved so dearly, to the community 
in which he has lived and labored, to all who 
knew him, he has left the example of a life 
well spent." 

"At a regular meeting of the Wendell Phillips' 
and Endicott Branches of the Irish National 
League, held in Armory Hall Sunday evening, 
December 2, 1883, the following resolution was 
unanimously adopted." 

Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathies to the 
East Boston Unitarian Society, who have met with a great 
loss in the death of the Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, 
whose many virtues as a Christian teacher and citizen 
endeared him to all who knew him. 

At a meeting of the pastors of the East Bos- 
ton Protestant churches, the following resolutions 
were unanimously adopted as expressive of their 
feelings regarding the character of their departed 
fellow-laborer, Rev. Mr. Cudworth. 

Whereas, Almighty God, our Father, in His wise prov- 
idence has removed by death, from our number and from 
this community, after an eminently useful pastorate of 
nearly thirty-two years, Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, a be- 
loved brother minister, and honored citizen; therefore 

Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathies and 






REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 341 

condolence to the only surviving sister of the deceased ; 
also the society and Church of Our Father, and to the 
Sunday-school, in the great loss of their much loved pastor 
and superintendent. 

Resolved, That we are happy to express our respect for 
his intellectual acquisitions and attainments ; our praise for 
his diligence, earnest work and ministerial success, for his 
patriotism, and service for his country; our esteem for 
his manly, noble, genial, kind self; our admiration for his 
catholic, Christian spirit, and personal interest in his 
fellows ; our pleasure in the exalted place he has gained 
in the estimation of citizen and soldier, of Protestant and 
Catholic, of adult and child; also our joy that he has 
been a blessing to so many thousands, and that a con- 
secrated heart and life have such exponents of their real 
worth. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented 
to the sister of the deceased, Miss A. M. Cudworth, and 
to the church and society of Our Father; and we also 
respectfully request that the church present a copy of the 
above to Joseph Hooker Post 23, G. A. R., and to all 
other organizations of which the deceased was a member, 
and to the press for publication. 
C. D. Hills, Pastor Saratoga St. M. E. Church; 
J. E. TwiTCHELL, Pastor Maverick Congregational Church ; 
L. B. Bates, Pastor Meridian St. M. E. Church and Bethel; 
J. L. Scott, Pastor Presbyterian Church ; 
W. F. Potter, Pastor Universalist Church; 
N. B Jones, Jr., Pastor Trinity Baptist Church ; 
J. K. Richardson, Pastor Central Square Baptist Church ; 
N. H. Chamberlain, Pastor St. John's Episcopal Church. 



342 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

At a meeting held December 4, at the resi- 
dence of Warren Fletcher, Esq., on Princeton 
street, the following resolutions were adopted : 

Whereas, God, our Father, in his all-wise providence, 
has removed, by death, from our midst Rev. Warren H. 
Cudworth, an esteemed and much loved honorary member, 
therefore be it 

Resolved, That we, the members of the Young Men's 
Social Union, tender our sympathy to Miss A. M. Cud- 
worth, his sister, in her deep sorrow. 

Resolved, That it is a pleasure to express our respect 
for his deep personal interest in the education of young 
men and their advancement into honorable positions, and 
our gratitude for his perseverance, interest and zeal in 
the exercises of the Union. We look back with pleasure 
to his many excellencies, worthy of our imitation, and 
though we regret his sudden passing away, yet "the soft 
memory of his virtues will linger like twilight hues when 
the bright sun is set." 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented 

to his sister, and to the society of the Church of Our 

Father. 

H. W. Lord, 

J. O. Godfrey, 

J. B. Maccabe, 

F. W. Remick, 

W. G. Emery, 

Bordman Hall, 

Warren Fletcher, 

Committee. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 343 

Card of Thanks: — The undersigned, in behalf of Miss 
A. M. Cudworth, and the society of the Unitarian Church 
of Our Father, desire to extend their sincere thanks to 
the several veteran, military, civic, musical and ecclesiasti- 
cal bodies, who participated and assisted in the obsequies 
of our beloved pastor, Rev. W. H. Cudworth. 
Edward Brigham, 
Rufus Cushing, 
S. Turner Manson, 
Sidney Peterson, 
Chas. K. Morrison, 
Standing Committee of the Church of Our Father. 

At a meeting of the First Regiment Massa- 
chusetts Veteran Association, held in Boylston 
Hall, December 2, the following resolutions were 
unanimously adopted : 

The survivors of the First Regiment of InSantry, Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers, assembled here to-day to do honor 
to the memory of our late comrade, Chaplain Warren H. 
Cudworth, hereby desire to publicly express our love and 
respect for one whose good works will serve better than 
monuments of stone or bronze to keep his memory green 
in the hearts of his comrades, his neighbors and his asso- 
ciates in his chosen walk of life. We recall the faithful 
and continuous discharge of his duties with the regiment 
throughout its active term of service ; how thoughtfully he 
cared for sick and wounded; how tenderly he closed the 
eyes of our dying, buried our dead and gave good coun- 



344 REV - WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

sel and advice to us all. We testify to his continued 
interest in our welfare in later and more peaceful years; 
how many happy nuptials he has made more cheery by 
his presence, how many occasions of sorrow he has been 
instrumental in tempering by his earnest consolation and 
prayers ; how many public demonstrations he has graced 
by his patriotic enthusiasm. Summoned to the presence 
of our Supreme Commander from the very midst of his 
labors, we cannot but feel that in the wisdom of Almighty 
God it was well that he was spared sickness and pain, 
knowing that, like a true Christian soldier, he ever had 
his armor on ready for his Master's call. 

Sunday, December g, a memorial sermon was 
preached in the church by Rev. S. H. Winkley. 
An exquisite floral design was placed upon the 
communion table — the gates wide open — which 
drew all eyes to the spot where his dear body 
lay one week before ; and suggested the recep- 
tion of his tried and purified spirit. The text 
was John xxi. 7 : It is expedient for you that I 
go away. 

These are the words uttered by Jesus when about to 
leave his disciples. He had also said, " If ye love me ye 
would rejoice because I go to my Father, for my Father 
is greater than I." This they could understand, even if 
hard so to do. But "it is expedient for you that I should 
go away" — this must have filled them with amazement. 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 345 

For notice that a threefold cord held them and him to- 
gether. First, a temporal consideration ; second, as a friend ; 
and third as a revelator and redeemer. First, temporally. 
They regarded him as the long-expected Messiah — the 
one who was to raise that little nation of theirs to some- 
thing mighty, through making it at the same time a 
heavenly kingdom. He was to be king. And such a king ! 
And they were to be princes in that kingdom. All its 
citizens were to be raised into the prosperity of a millen- 
nium. And yet he says to them, " It is expedient for you 
that I go away." 

Second, as a friend. And what a friend ! They had 
been together in many a scene of pleasure and of afflic- 
tion. In long country walks and in the domestic circle. 
Amid the crowds that gathered around him to hear his 
instructions, and as individuals asking and answering ques- 
tions. In all, he was the magnet. No wonder that they 
were drawn to him. No wonder that multitudes of men 
and of women hung upon his words, and delighted to 
minister to his needs. No such blessed friendship had 
been known before. And now that he has become the 
very sunshine of their lives, he says to them, " I must 
go." And, " It is expedient for you that I go." 

Third, as son of God, and son of man, he was as none 
other. " Never man spake like this man.'' Similar truths 
may have been uttered before. Miracles of an astonishing 
kind had been performed by their ancient prophets, but Jesus 
revealed the Eternal Love in such a way as to have the 
Father win his children to himself. He thereby revealed 
to man the possibility of being children of Infinite Love. 
As a result of this love relation to the Father, he as- 



346 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

sured them that they were passing from death unto life, 
and were being possessed of immortality. He made sure 
to them the fact that the reign of this love upon earth 
would be co-extensive with the willingness of man to re- 
ceive it. And he, even while he revealed these glorious 
possibilities, must go. And to them, as they were by his 
aid seeing God, self, a redeemed earth, and, eternal life, 
he says, " It is expedient for you that I go away." Other 
words he uttered to them, which if he must go, they 
could hear with joy. 

First, " If ye love me keep my commandments." Sec- 
ond, " Lo, I am with you always, unto the end of the 
world." " My Father and I will make our abode with 
you and in you." Third, " I will prepare a place for you 
and will receive you unto myself, that where I am there 
ye may be also." 

The sad time came for him to go. They could rejoice 
that he had gone to the Father, and without delaying to 
discover how it was expedient for them that he should 
go, they kept his commandments. One promise of his 
was at once fulfilled. The Holy Spirit, the love spirit, 
abundantly descended upon them. Then the twelve, the 
seventy, the one hundred and twenty, and the five hun- 
dred, became mighty ones in his cause. The work which 
they would have left for him to do because he was so 
mighty, and could do it so much better, they did as well 
as they could. Presently their party was increased by 
thousands. It was in this grand result that they began 
to see how it was expedient for them — yes, for Jesus, 
for God, and for the world — that he should go away. 
Had his disciples continued thus to work through the 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 347 

centuries, long ere this love would have conquered the 
world. Christ and the angels, as well as the Father, 
showed by this increase of numbers that they were with 
these true laborers. As in following years they completed 
their work, either through martyrdom, or a natural de- 
parture, they found their place prepared, and were wel- 
comed by the Master ; not to an immortality of ease, 
but to a copartnership with the innumerable company of 
ministering spirits, who should continue their labors till 
the whole world be redeemed. There were still other 
words which Jesus had uttered, such as these : " As my 
Father sent me into the world, so send I you." "He 
that receiveth you receiveth me." And so the loved ones 
have been sent down to the present time. Thus our 
loved one, who has so recently gone, might have said to 
us : " If ye love me, ye will rejoice because I go to the 
Father," and through his great confidence in the Father, 
he might have added, " Dear friends, it is expedient for 
you that I go." Yet for three similar reasons it seems 
impossible for us to assent ; first, his temporal relation ; 
second, his friendship, and third his spiritual work. 

First, temporally. This church, and all its instrumental- 
ities were his kingdom ; and as if he were the only one 
who could or should do it, he said, " I would like this 
to be a free church. I will take upon myself the whole 
financial responsibility ; " and he did so. He made this 
house a home for all who chose to avail themselves of 
it. Many have been blessed in the simple rest and quiet 
of this church long before they have learned to live 
Christian lives ; and many also have derived healthful 
enjoyment, for an evening, from its social gatherings, who 



348 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

may at the time have received little besides. Very many, 
both children and adults, has he taught to sing, who may 
not to this day have learned "to make melody in their 
hearts to God ; " and yet who have been blessed in the 
song, and will be. Many an instructive entertainment has 
he given here which, while it has abundantly imparted 
information, may not yet have borne fruit unto life eternal. 
At many a wedding and party of pleasure has he been, 
with his words of cheer and gladness ; and what house or 
hand of need has he ever passed by? As Jesus healed 
the sick, frequented weddings and parties, and answered 
the questions of many who were unready to receive from 
him any higher gift — so did he who fills all our minds, 
follow in the footsteps of his Master, and materially bless 
those whom he could not spiritually elevate. Regarding 
him only in this way, how can we hear him say — " It is 
expedient for you that I go away." 

Second, friendship. You and I know what a friend he 
was. That firm grasp of the hand, the genial smile, the 
active intellect, the soul full of music, the love of every 
moral virtue, undisputed patriotism, active philanthrophy 
and acknowledged piety — all qualified him to respond so 
utterly to all that another had to give, and which at once 
rendered his friendship so valuable and so permanent. 
How large a place he leaves vacant ! As we more and 
more realize our loss, how can we hear him say to us, 
" It is expedient for you that I go away." 

Third, as a spiritual teacher. He taught Christian truths 
not as one who had simply learned them intellectually, 
but as the test of his experience made him sure of them. 
His very knowledge was derived not so much from mere 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 349 

books and abstract reasoning, as from the enlightenment 
which comes through the affections. It was this which 
made him a great man ; greater — if the tree is to be 
judged by its fruits — than his world knew. He indeed 
sat at the feet of Jesus, and with his thought, received 
his spirit ; and it was through this active discipleship that 
he was so well qualified to teach and to preach. How 
clearly he revealed to the willing mind the son of Lave ! 
With what success he lifted the veil from the Infinite 
Father's face ! With what skill he induced human hearts 
to open for the inflow of the Holy Spirit ! In this pulpit 
how earnestly he preached it; and in the Sunday-school 
how clearly he taught it. He would have his congregation 
sing with the spirit and the understanding also. In every 
devotional meeting he would have all efforts mean, " Nearer, 
my God, to Thee." In every home he would hear " Our 
Father who art in Heaven." In every wedding it was the 
recognition of His spirit who graced the marriage at Cana. 
At funerals, and in every garden of Gethsemane, it was 
'*Thy will, not mine, be done." In war or peace, in joy 
and sorrow, how he continually opened our eyes to see 
these divine truths, and our ears to hear the heavenly 
voices by which we were moved through love to a higher life. 
He would have us as individuals, redeemed from doubt 
and sin. He would have us comforted in our sorrows 
and grateful in our joys. He would have us live very 
near to the Father, and hold sweet communion with his 
children. He would have hs possess the peace which 
passeth all understanding, and be filled with the joy of 
the Master. In a word, he would have us " daily increase 
in knowledge and wisdom, and in favor with God and 



35 O REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

man." One would think this were enough ; but he would 
not so think, unless it included as a predominant interest 
the like redemption and elevation of every member of the 
great human family. How can we hear him — who has 
led us in all these directions so diligently — say to us 
"It is expedient for you that I go away." We can do 
what the friends of his great Friend and ours did, leave 
this question for time to answer; and yet how much the 
favorableness of that answer rests with us. Therefore, let 
us heed those other three utterances: first, "If ye love 
me, keep my commandments ; " second, " I will be with 
you always ; " and third, " Where I am, there shall ye be 
also." At once, then, let us to the work as they did. 
Let every man, woman and child be a Cudworth; not so 
efficient, it may be, but in your own lot and place do 
your part at the best. Let there be no holding back. 
The time for leaning upon him is passed. Let, then, the 
work of this church go forward with fresh diligence. At 
once arrange that the best shall be done to make this a 
living society. Let every one, however wanting in influence 
he may consider himself, yet hold himself responsible for 
its prosperity, as if he were the only one who could 
make it sure. In this case no one will be absent from 
church any more than that dear friend would have been. 
Every part of the service will be enlivened as if he had 
multiplied himself into the number present. The musical 
interest will be looked after as if he were the soul of it. 
The Sunday-school will then be made to flourish, not only 
by the renewed zeal of the teachers, but also by the 
hearty response of the pupils, as if his presence were 
lecognized. The next year will then find the school larger 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 35 1 

and better than to-day. The devotional meetings will be ever 
of a higher order. Personal piety will be more marked and 
greater effort put forth to lead others to do his will on earth 
as angels are doing it in Heaven ; his friends will be cared 
for ; and his dear ones have a double portion of sympathy. 
The poor will be looked after ; and every form of minis- 
tration will be rendered with increased zeal. Then will 
the twelve, the seventy, the one hundred and twenty, and 
the five hundred work as only lovers of God and His 
children can. Then will your Pentacostal time come. 
Every one will be greatly increased in energy, and num- 
bers will be added to you. Then, among the cloud of 
witnesses with which we are surrounded, will you not 
rejoice to recognize him as still your leader ? and, as one 
after another, you finish the earthly course, will you not 
meet him with joy as you point to these monuments of 
your love ? 

Yes ; and before that time even, in the midst of this 
increased activity and prosperity; following as a neces- 
sity his departure, may you not be able to see why it 
was expedient for you, yes, and for him, and for all, that 
he should go away. You may in sadness ask, " Why did 
we not do all this while he was with us ? " and so might 
the disciples of Christ have asked. If they had, perhaps 
the same answer would have been appropriate to both. 
It was necessary that he should come, and by much dili- 
gent labor lead you to a condition where you would both 
desire and be qualified to do this grand work; and then 
it was expedient that he should go away and leave the 
work with only you to do it, that thereby a more abun- 
dant harvest might be secured. 



352 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

In the evening a service was held in the 
Union Hall in memory of Rev. Mr. Cudworth, 
who was for many years a life member and de- 
voted friend of the Boston Young Men's Chris- 
tian Union. The esteem and respect in which 
he was held during life, and the sorrow at his 
decease, found expression in an attendance which 
speedily filled the hall to overflowing, while many 
were unable to obtain admittance at all. On the 
platform were seated President Baldwin, Rev. S. 
H. Winkley, Rev. L. B. Bates of East Boston, 
Rev. R. Perry Bush of Everett, Rev. C. W. 
Wendte of Newport, R. I., Master Lincoln of 
the Lyman School, and many other well-known 
gentlemen. 

A very fine portrait of the deceased clergyman 
rested on an easel near the front of the stage, 
draped with smilax. The opening address was 
by President Baldwin, who spoke as follows : 

Members and friends of the Christian Union, we have 
met here this evening to pay our tribute of affection and 
regard to our Brother Cudworth, a life member and de- 
voted friend of this Union for many years. His loss is 
deeply felt throughout this entire community. We shall 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 353 

miss him here at the Union, where he delighted to meet 
with and speak to the young people to whom he was 
strongly attached. Mr. Cudworth's power and influence 
over the young was based upon his strong, clear, spiritual 
convictions. He always presented the great problems of 
life, death, and the great future, with clearness of thought 
and expression. He was a firm believer in the Christian 
religion. No uncertain sound ever came from his lips. 
He cared not for philosophical and scientific essays in 
the Christian pulpit, his whole . soul being wrought up to 
its highest point in dealing with the vital truths of the 
Christian religion. Mr. Cudworth was a true preacher, 
minister and friend. He was ever ready to extend " the 
right hand of fellowship " to those of every class and 
rank in God's great human family. Yes, friends, Mr. Cud- 
worth was a true friend to all, and to this Christian 
Union. I dare not attempt at this time to recall the 
strong words of interest and appreciation in the work of 
this society which he so often and warmly expressed to 
me. Yes, we did have a friend in him for many years 
while on earth, and may we not have the sweet and con- 
soling faith to believe that somehow he is now, and al- 
ways will be, with us in the spirit, hovering above and 
around us, ever watchful of our interests, and thus may 
we not think of him as one of the dear friends we 
had on earth, and still now an interested friend in the 
better land to which he has been called by his Father and 
our Father ? God grant that it may be so. 

Mr. Baldwin then read the following letter 
from ex-Governor Long : 



354 REV « WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Washington, Dec. 5. 
Dear Mr. Baldwin: — I wish I could be present at 
your meeting of the Union next Sunday evening, if only 
to stand up and be counted as paying tribute, not to the 
memory, but to the still living worth and work of Rev. 
Mr. Cudworth. You have done well in your frequent 
commemoration of the birthdays of the great men of the 
country. But you do still better when you recall this 
shining example of one of our own familiar neighbors and 
citizens who for so many years devoted his energies and 
talents to living a good life himself and inspiring one in 
others ; who was full of the spirit, and did the works of 
Christianity; whose influence was felt by a whole genera- 
tion of young men, and who, true hero as he was, 
whether on the battlefield of war, or in the constant ser- 
vice of peace and good will to men, was always at his 
post, and at his post died faithfully at last. What 
a splendid example he has left in the struggles of his 
youth for education and opportunity, in the consecration of 
his manhood to the service of God and his fellowmen, in 
his patriotic service in the war,, in his unfailing charities 
and works of cheer, and courage, and instruction, and in 
the whole influence of his life. Most sincerely do I join 
you in commemorating him. 

Very truly yours, 

John D. Long. 

Chaplain Barnes at the Massachusetts State 

prison wrote : 

I am profoundly moved by the decease of Mr. Cudworth. 
He was settled in East Boston the year I commenced 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 355 

preaching, was brought up in my native city, and, since 
his settlement in East Boston, has many a time impressed 
me with his earnestness, sincerity and great heartedness 
and spiritual simplicity as few men have ever done. It 
seems a loss of first magnitude to the Christian church 
and needy humanity; so far as I can see, irreparable. 
God pity us who are left, and raise up some one to take 
his work on to perfection. 
Warenville, Dec. 6, 1883. 

Rev. S. H. Winkley was then introduced, and 
said: 

There are some men who calculate -the importance of 
every act they undertake by the amount of dollars and 
cents it will be likely to accrue to them; there are others 
who wish you to prove logically every statement you may 
utter, and if you fail, or refuse to do so, they cast the 
principle aside as worthless. But our deceased brother 
belonged to neither of these classes. His was a grand, 
noble nature, and as simple as it was grand. His whole 
heart was embarked in whatever he undertook, and in 
view of this fact it is not surprising that he succeeded 
so well in life, for when a man is moved by his heart, 
and has perseverance, he will rarely if ever fail. Brother Cud- 
worth had clear convictions, and exercised a strong love 
for all mankind. It was his especial delight to lend a 
helping hand to the weak and lowly, in order that they 
might be raised from their wretchedness, and led to 
know the peace and mercy of God. Selfish men vacillate, 
but he who loves never vacillates. If you tell him that 



356 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

the way is rough and the journey long, he loves it all 
the more, caring nothing for hardships, misunderstandings 
or trials, but pursues his course faithfully and fearlessly 
to the end. Brother Cudworth could never leave East 
Boston permanently, for his whole heart was bound up in 
his people there, and he would ever stay with those he 
loved. A true man will love his enemy as well as his 
friend, and he will not neglect to do what he can to 
bring both to God. Such was Brother Cudworth, loving 
God and his fellow-men. Doing good to all, working day 
and night for the young and old, the high and lowly, he 
leaves behind him an example never to be forgotten. 

After the singing of " God moves in a myste- 
rious way," by the audience, Rev. R. Perry Bush 
of Everett was introduced, and spoke as follows: 

A certain great one has said that that sentiment is little 
and unworthy which is over prodigal in its praise of 
men; but I judge it not unworthy that we meet here 
to-night to honor him we love. Mr. Cudworth was a man 
who ever, during his long and useful life, was true to 
the spirit of duty, and courted not the applause of the 
multitude. And I am glad to be here to-night that I may 
add my tribute to the honored dead. I come to bring 
to you my regard for him, knowing that in you there is 
an answer to that regard, and as I look in your faces I 
find a responsive echo in your hearts for his great friend 
ship and continued interest in your Union. Brother Cud- 
worth was an indefatigable worker, and from early morn- 
ing until late at night he labored zealously in the vine- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 357 

yard of the Lord. He did his part well, and his mem- 
ory will be a benediction. Whatever he did was with a 
motive clear, strong and noble. Sincerity and energy were 
his great characteristics, and that simple trust in God's 
controlling law made him always a servant of Jesus 
Christ. And as we think, and the tears rise to our eyes, 
we can feel that his spirit still lives, and is with us to 
inspire us to follow in his footsteps. 

The next address was delivered by Rev. L. B. 
Bates of East Boston, who said : 

The past few days have revealed to me as never before, 
the worth of a man's character. Brother Cudworth was a 
man so beloved by people of all classes, that when he 
died he had a funeral in every house, in every church, 
and in every place of business in the Island wards. I 
think, that in the history of Boston for the past twenty 
years, you will not find anothor case in which so large a 
number of people could say with truth, "This was my 
friend." From one week ago yesterday until he was 
buried, over twelve thousand people passed up the aisles 
of his church to take a farewell look and say good-by 
to the brother whose memory calls us here to-night. The 
death of Mr. Cudworth has left not a sceptic nor a 
doubter in the future life, in East Boston. Creeds are 
theories, and sometimes it matters little in regard to them. 
The life is the experience. Mr. Cudworth was ever mind- 
ful of the welfare of those under his charge, whether at 
home or on the battlefield, and often when the stars were 
shining on Southern scenes, and the soldiers were sleep- 



358 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

ing in their tents, I have heard him praying fervently for 
his comrades, his country, and for his people and the 
church at home. In Brother Cudworth's death the com- 
munity loses one of the noblest, purest and best of men, 
and while I have life I shall cherish the memory of that 
faithful servant of God whose life has done so much to 
link together the hearts of his brethren, and to lift up 
the race to holiness and God. 

Rev. C. W. Wendte of Newport, R. I., was 
next introduced, who spoke as follows : 

My dear friends, our dear departed brother died leaving 
us an example that we should take to heart, that we may 
follow reverently, tenderly and earnestly in his footsteps. 
Our lamented friend had two great characteristics which we 
may take home with us as an incentive to imitate that 
lovely and symmetrical life : First, his intense earnestness 
and indomitable will ; whatever he undertook he carried 
out to the end, allowing no divisions, allegations or in- 
differencies to swerve him from his course, and making 
every sacrifice possible in order to embrace all mankind 
in the love of God. Second, his noble unselfishness of 
life. Ever pure in thought and chaste in life, he was an 
apostle of righteousness. Young men sometimes say, " I 
have not had a fair chance in life, and not much can be 
expected of me." The memory of that good man, and of 
his earnest, hopeful, helpful life, should still such mur 
muring and rebuke such timidity. 

Mr. H. H. Lincoln, master of the Lyman School 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 359 

at East Boston, a parishioner and intimate friend 
of Mr. Cudworth since his settlement, said that 
it would be hard to say too much good of the 
departed. He had expected and hoped that he 
should have Brother Cudworth by his side when 
his own time should come to die ; he had never 
thought that his beloved pastor would be the 
first to go. His last words, " I must stop," were 
said with his mortal lips only; his spirit cried, 
" I must go on." " Onward, upward, ever," was 
his life motto ; from one perfection to another, 
through an infinite series ; on, on, until I can 
command all the knowledge and wisdom in the 
universe. His prayer was ever " Nearer, my God, 
to thee." The speaker gave several instances of 
Mr. Cudworth's affection for young men, and 
closed by reciting the poem, 
Over the river, 

with fine effect. 

On the tenth of December a meeting of the 
Willing Workers, connected with the Sabbath- 
school of the Church of Our Father, was held, 
and a committee chosen to prepare a set of 



360 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

resolutions expressive of their irreparable loss in 
the departure of their president, Rev. W. H. 
Cudworth, who had been elected by them to 
fill that office during his earthly life ; and the 
following preamble and resolutions were presented 
at their next regular meeting: 

Whereas, It has pleased the ever-loving Heavenly Father 
to remove from his earthly work to his heavenly joy, our 
life-long chosen President, Rev. W. H. Cudworth, whose 
loving smile was a heavenly benediction to every child and 
youth in the band of Willing Workers connected with the 
Sabbath-school, therefore, 

Resolved, That while tears will overflow when the full 
fount is stirred to its depths, yet we will not murmur, 
but cherish in our heart of hearts the rich treasure of his 
deep, tender, and ever unfailing love for children — his un- 
tiring devotion in word and work for their best good; 
and his earnest Christian counsel, that to " work for the 
Master " in the " willing " spirit was alone acceptable 
to Him, and that He would crown each loving, self-sacri- 
ficing effort, for His sake, with rich success, and the 
blest benediction, Well done. 

Resolved, That to strive to carry out in our lives the 
exalted Christian precepts which have ever fallen so abun- 
dantly from his lips — to embody the grand character of 
his unselfish, untiring devotion to the good of all about 
him, and to be in very truth and deed the Willing Work- 
ers in Christ's Church, carrying out, so far as may be 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 361 

his cherished plans for its upbuilding, we shall thereby 
erect for him the only enduring monument — grand and 
beautiful — outlasting all "gilded domes and marble spires." 

Resolved, That we remember in sympathy his sister, \ 
Miss A. M. Cudworth, and all other relatives and friends, ' 
and all workers with him in this his church home — 
especially in Sabbath school, both teachers and scholars, 
together with our highly esteemed Assistant Superintendent, 
Hon. H. B. Hill — with all we mingle our gratitude and 
our tears, and earnestly pray, that, while he will ever be 
our guiding star through life, the lustre thereof may grow 
brighter and brighter until the perfect day shall dawn, 
and all together, re-united with our loved leader — gone 
before — bask in the full beams of the Son of Righteous- 
ness, ever more to be " Willing Workers " in the angel 
school where Christ himself doth rule. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to 
Miss A. M. Cudworth, also that we submit the same to 
the East Boston Advocate, and to the Argus, requesting pub- 
lication. 

Susan C. Damon, 

Samuel C. Martin, Jr., 
Albert T. Snow, 

Committee. 

At the regular meeting of the East Boston 
Band of Hope, which was held in the lecture 
room of the Church of Our Father, the follow- 
ing resolutions were also unanimously adopted : 



\ 



362 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

Whereas, Our Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom 
has called our friend and helper, Rev. W. H. Cudworth, 
to his home above, and we shall see his face no more, 

Whereas, We shall ever remember his unfailing inter- 
est in our welfare, manifested by innumerable acts of 
kindness, therefore, 

Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with his lonely 
sister, while we mourn for ourselves and pray that the 
memory of his truth and integrity may ever remain to 
help us in our lives. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to 
Miss Cudworth, and that they be published in the East 
Boston Advocate. 

Mrs. George O. Parker, 
Miss Margaret J. Bailey, 
Miss Maude Foltz, 

Committee. 

December 12 the Union Sewing Circle of the 
Church of Our Father held their first regular 
meeting after the departure of their deeply 
lamented pastor, and the following preamble and 
resolutions were called forth : 

Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father to re- 
move from our midst the much loved pastor, and ever 
devoted friend in our circle, Rev. W. H. Cudworth, who 
has filled the office of trustee for the last twenty-two 
years, but is now called to his higher trusts in the an- 
gelic circle, therefore, 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 363 

Resolved, That while we submit without murmur to the 
ever-wise and all-loving will of God, we will ever keep in 
the treasury of our hearts and minds his precious legacy 
of disinterested love, and active devotion to the good of 
the Church, his perfect sacrifice of self on the altar of 
Christian life, and his spirit of " Good Will " to all, which 
ever brought harmony from discord, and put new energy 
into every activity. 

Resolved, That by the memory and influence of the past, 
we will re-dedicate our industrial circle to the interests of 
the Church of our Father, reconsecrate our hearts and hands 
to the work made so sacred by his labor, his prayers, 
and his lfe-sacrifice — that we may enter into his labor, 
having the mantle of his spirit fall on us, that we may 
thereby build the only enduring monument of his glorious 
life. 

Resolved, That we extend to his sister, Miss A. M. 
Cudworth, and other relatives, our heartfelt sympathy in 
their deep bereavement; and rejoice together with them in 
the hope that when we too " must stop " in our earthly 
course, the dear remembered hand-grasp may once more 
be ours, with the greetings of the angelic circle ever busy 
doing our Father's will, in His house of many mansions, 
where there will be no more going out forever. 

These resolutions being unanimously adopted, 
it was voted to send a copy to the bereaved 
sister, and also to submit the same to the Ad- 
vocate, and to the Argus, for publication. 



364 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

At a meeting of the directors of the Boston 
North End Mission, the following resolutions 
were unanimously adopted : 

Whereas, God in his wisdom has seen fit to remove 
suddenly from our number the Rev. W, H. Cudworth, a 
member of the board of directors of this Mission, there- 
fore, 

Resolved, That we acquiesce in the dealings of that 
Divine Providence which " sees the end from the begin- 
ning," and "doeth all things well," believing that our 
great loss is the unspeakable gain of our friend and 
> associate. 

Resolved, That we extend to the only surviving sister of 
the deceased, and to the church over which he for over 
thirty years ministered, our sympathy and condolence in 
the great loss which they have sustained. 

Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the 
records of this Mission, and a copy be forwarded to the 
sister of the deceased, and to the Church of Our Father, 
East Boston. 

H. E. Abbott, Secretary. 
L. B, Bates, Chairman. 

Boston, December 18, 1883. 

The accompanying resolutions were unanimously 
adopted by a rising vote : 

Whereas, In the death of the Rev. Warren H, Cudworth 
the order of the Temple of Honor in general, and Phoenix 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 365 

Temple of Honor in particular, have sustained an irrepa- 
rable loss, 

Resolved, That Phoenix Temple of Honor, while bowing 
meekly to the will of Divine Providence, cannot permit 
the dispensation which has deprived them of a devoted 
brother, a warm friend, an earnest champion, to pass with- 
out placing on record a recognition of the valuable ser- 
vices of their late brother, and their sincere sorrow at 
his sudden death. 

Resolved, That as a Temple we acknowledge the nume- 
rous favors which we have received at his hands and 
gratefully remember his endorsement of our work on num- 
erous public and private occasions. 

Resolved, That we will endeavor to emulate his example 
in his devotion to the principles we have vowed to sup- 
port, and pledge ourselves, in view of the death of our 
brother, to renewed fealty to those principles in theory and 
practice. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented 
to the sister of our deceased brother- that they be spread 
upon our records, and that they be published in the East 
Boston Advocate. 

A. II. Lewis, 
A, W. Hussey, 

J. Wi SWINT, 



East Boston, Dec. 20, 1883. 



Committee. 



At the last directors' meeting of the Home 
Club, the following resolutions were passed: 



366 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH, 

Resolved, That in the death of Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, 
the Home Club has lost a warm and generous friend, 
whose hearty sympathy in our work has been from the 
first year of our organisation, a source of encouragement 
and strength. 

Resolved, That while we recognize and deplore the great 
loss which not only this organization, but the whole com- 
munity, has sustained, we yet rejoice that so lofty an ex- 
ample of a noble and upright life has been granted us. 
We are grateful for his purity, his integrity, his devotion to 
humanity, his truth to the highest ideals, and we trust that 
his memory in this community may serve as an inspiration 
to nobler modes of thought and life. 

Resolved, That we tender to his bereaved sister our ten- 
dered sympathy in her affliction ; we weep with her for 
loss of a tender brother, and beseech her to rejoice with 
us in the beauty of the life that has closed, and in the 
fullness of the life that has begun. 

M. B. Ersklne, 
Cor. Secy Home Club. 

East Boston Dec. 31, '83. 

The same kind friend who the year previous 
had filled a part of the windows of our beauti- 
ful church with the pictured representations of 
the Evangelists and the birth and ascension of 
our Lord and Redeemer, was this new year to finish 
the gift , and the life of Jesus from his baptism 
to his crucifixion, according to the pastor's wish, 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 367 

were to fill the remaining windows. But he was 
not allowed to see them in their place, and they 
were set as a sacred legacy to the church he 
could no longer serve. 

The following, from one of the smaller soci- 
eties, is but one of many: 

Whereas, The Father in Heaven, in His infinite wis- 
dom, has called our friend and brother, Rev. Warren H. 
Cudworth, to his home above, and hid him from our 
view; and, 

Whereas, Brother Cudworth's ministrations to our soci- 
ety in days gone by. his ever cordial sympathy, and his 
hearty interest in our welfare made him dearly beloved by 
each and all among us, and awakened in our hearts most 
tender regard, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That we deeply sorrow at this separation, and 
with the sister, and the unnumbered multitude of friends, 
we unite to mourn his loss, and to pray that the remem- 
brance of his words and works may long remain to help 
us in our lives ; * 

Resolved, That we tender to all friends of the deceased 
our earnest sympathy, and in token thereof, that a copy 
of these resolutions be sent to Miss Cudworth, and that 
they be published in the East Boston Argus, the East Bos- 
ton Advocate, and the Everett Free Press, 
J. E. Coburn, 
R. M. Barnard, 
Rev. R. Perry Bush, 
For the Everett Universalist Society, 



368 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

At a meeting of Mount Tabor Masonic Lodge, 
held January 17, 1884, the following resolutions 
were adopted : 

Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father, in his 
infinite wisdom, to remove from us the earthly compan 
ionship of our worthy, honored and loved brother, Rev. 
Warren H. Cudworth, who departed this life on Thanks- 
giving Day, while offering a union Thanksgiving prayer 
to Deity in behalf of the people of the Island ward, 
therefore, 

Resolved, By the officers and members of Mount Tabor 
Lodge duly assembled, that by his death and removal, we 
have lost one of the most valuable members that ever 
enlisted in the cause of our institution. 

Resolved, That we hold in reverential admiration the 
noble and glorious works of his whole life, his sincere 
devotion and never-ceasing labor in the cause of advanc- 
ing to higher life and noble ambition the whole human 
race to unite them in one common bond of universal 
brotherhood. * 

Resolved, That we have no words adequate whereby to 
express the great sorrow that we feel and realize in the 
sudden bereavement of one so loved, honored and re- 
spected; whose bright example and exemplary life reflect 
so much honor, not only on our institution, but on all 
the institutions with which he was connected. 

Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathy to his 
sister, his nearest relative, and all his relatives, his church 
and people, his Sunday-school especially, and all those asso- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 369 

ciations to which he belonged, we mourn with them, for 
we feel their grief, and we will keep green his memory 
in heart of hearts until it shall cease to beat. 

Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the 
records, a copy sent to his sister, and church and 
society. 

J. A, Maynard, 
G. S. Sampson, 
J. S. Perkins. 

Committee. 

The following letter is given as another loving 
testimony from one of his many friends. 

Franklin Savings Bank, Boston, Jan. 31, 1884. 
Dear Madam; — At the quarterly meeting of the Board 
of Trustees held this day, the following was submitted by 
Hon Frederick Lincoln: — The last member of our Board 
whose departure we deplore is the Rev. Warren H. Cud- 
worth, who became a trustee in 1877. He was the be- 
loved chaplain of the First Regiment of Massachusetts in 
the late civil war. No one of his profession evinced, by 
active, personal service, a more devoted and patriotic 
interest in his country's cause. His connection with our 
institution commenced early in the struggle. Such was 
the confidence placed in his integrity by many of the 
soldiers in his regiment, that they voluntarily put in his 
hands the money which they received when paid on the 
field. These sums he transmitted to our bank, to be 
held in security until their return, or the wants of their 
families required. This was only one of the philanthropic 



37° REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

measures which distinguished his public and private life. 
While discharging to a remarkable degree the sacred 
duties belonging to a clergyman, he also possessed busi- 
ness qualifications which eminently fitted him for a seat 
on our board. No death in our city within the last 
twelve months has been more universally regretted, or 
sincerely mourned. We shall miss his hearty greeting, 
and genial presence; therefore, be it 

Resolved, as a token of respect to the memory of our 
late associate, that the secretary be requested in our be- 
half, to transmit a letter of condolence, with the assur- 
ance of our deep sympathy in the bereavement sustained ; 
and that a copy of this action of the Board be entered 
in full upon the records. 

Henry Whittemore, Secretary. 

A visitor at his grave thus writes : 

I found I was not the only pilgrim to this shrine ; the 
whole broad avenues on either side were completely filled 
with people, composed largely of Mr. Cudworth's parish- 
ioners in East Boston, with many Everett friends, making 
a congregation larger than in many of our churches this 
day : a congregation he was then and there speaking to 
without words, with a sermon unwritten, yet apparently 
sinking deeper into the hearts of all present, than any of 
his most eloquent discourses. Each one remembered some 
kind word spoken which awakened them to a new and 
better life; or some kind deed done which no one else 
knew, and this silent preacher covered with June's flowers, 
preached his greatest sermon without words — Immortality 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 37 I 

— and this silent congregation, standing in the fading sun- 
light of this first day of summer, worshipped the Father 
for having given to them the faithful teacher of liberal 
Christianity, and left to them a noble life for our example. 



The following characteristic letter is. from the 
Christian Register " We could not cite a better 
illustration of Mr. Cudworth's readiness for ser- 
vice than the following note, written by him in 
June last, in which he heartily accepts a very 
difficult task. The directors of the Suffolk Con- 
ference had proposed a series of thirty theatre 
meetings to be held this winter — 1883 — in the 
Boston Theatre. Desirous to give unity to the 
course and to place it under the direction of 
some one man who knew the people, they ear- 
nestly invited Mr. Cudworth to direct it, with 
the understanding that he should select and in- 
vite the preachers, arrange the music, and, in 
brief, make it his evening service for the winter. 
To this proposal, involving, as will be seen, 
work of the hardest, simply in the common cause, 
Mr. Cudworth immediately and cordially assented 
in the following note to Mr. Hale, the chair- 



372 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

man of the conference. We print it with a cer- 
tain sad pleasure, as showing the readiness of 
spirit of the man : 

As to the Theatre services of last winter, I am glad to 
know that the Suffolk Conference feel encouraged by their 
success; more glad that the gentlemen who compose it 
meditate a repetition; and most glad to be accounted 
worthy by the Lord and them of any humblest part or 
place in such an enterprise. All life comes from use, of use, 
and for use — use and exercise. Boston Unitarianism needs 
a little more exercise. If Boston Unitarians would take 
hold heartily of such an enterprise as thirty theatre Sun- 
day evening meetings to instruct and Christianize the 
rough or cultivated mass, one hundred thousand strong, 
of people outside of all church influence in our midst, 
they would score of their gospel triumphs one of the 
greatest. Count me your leader, if you will, though I am 
not worthy the poorest follower's place. Everything I have, 
and all I am or can be, are at Christ's service and yours, 
for their good in this great city, for whom, if second 
death were necessary, he would even die again. 

Cordially yours, 

W. H. Cudworth. 

When the period came for the opening of the 
course, Mr. Cudworth was obliged, very unwill- 
ingly, to withdraw from the charge of it. It 
seems as if, even then, he had some indication 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 373 

that he must spare this faithful body which had 
served him so well, and must not undertake all 
that his heart or his hand found to do. 

Judge E. R. Hoar, in an essay in December, 
on " Church Hospitality," paid this fine tribute 
to Mr. Cudworth. " I should hardly like to have 
this gathering separate without bringing to mind 
the name of one man in this city whose sud- 
den and lamented death within the last few 
weeks brought out such a burst of sympathy and 
respect and admiration from men of every relig- 
ious denomination, of all the churches about 
him — Mr. Cudworth, of East Boston, a man 
who was himself an exemplification of religious 
and church hospitality. I wish to express my 
opinion that I know no citizen of Boston, no 
matter what his position, social or political, no 
matter what his wealth, whose death would be 
a greater loss to the cause of everything that 
is good and valuable in our community, than is 
the death of that man. He had gathered the 
largest Sunday-school of our denomination in the 
country, and a large society (which if not rich 



374 R EV - WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

is yet not poor). Where the heart, the purpose 
and the belief is found, as in the case of Mr. 
Cudworth, we shall find somehow or other we 
are accomplishing the object." 

The New York Christian Union had the fol- 
lowing editorial: "The sudden death of the 
Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, the widely known and 
successful Unitarian clergyman of East Boston, 
while offering prayer in a union service in the 
orthodox church, touched chords that vibrated 
sensitively through wide circles. As if prophetic 
of the coming day when God's watchmen shall 
all see eye to eye, it has been the custom for 
some years for all the Protestant churches to 
unite in Thanksgiving services. On the recent 
occasion Mr. Cudworth had just begun to pray, 
but he suddenly paused, remarking, 'I — must — 
stop,' and fell over upon his side, and instantly 
passed away. With the exception of several 
years in the army, and one year recently abroad, 
he has been in active service the year through 
in his church in East Boston, since the com- 
mencement of his ministry in 1852. He gath- 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 375 

ered a large congregation; a Sunday-school of 
some seven hundred — the largest Unitarian school, 
I have seen it stated, in the world; he was ever 
active among all classes, bright, cheerful, hopeful 
and helpful, especially to young men; busy in 
temperance work and all works of reform; viva- 
cious, apt, eminently sensible ; of pure life and 
earnest purpose ; he did his work well, and 
seemed ready, at the age of fifty-eight, for his 
translation. Of the men of all denominations 
who have frequently spent the night in my fam- 
ily, a visit or two from Mr. Cudworth, while 
engaged in his temperance work, left an aroma 
especially for the children, as fragrant as any; 
and those occasions will ever be recalled with 
pleasure and gratitude." 

The Rev. Mr. Cook, at the Baptist Bethel, 
spoke thus of Mr. Cudworth : " We have known 
him here at the Bethel — some of you have known 
him ever since he came to Boston. He did not 
look coldly upon me when I asked him to 
come and speak at our temperance meetings, 
for whenever he could spare the time he has 



376 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

been here to speak to us. In the fourteen years 
we have labored together no other man who 
has died has created so much sorrow in this 
portion of the city. He was an upright and 
honest man. He wanted to deal justly and walk 
humbly before his God. When in the army, on 
pay days, he would visit the soldiers who were 
spending their money for liquor, or in gambling, 
and would say to them, Let me send your 
money home to your families. They would hand 
it over to him, because they knew they could 
trust him better than they could themselves. No 
wonder the streets were lined with people and 
soldiers to-day, during the funeral services. And 
what a demonstration was there when, a few 
years ago, he started for Europe. Millionnaires 
go to Europe, but no crowds attend their de- 
parture, as was the case with him. It is the 
duty of every man to imitate the industry, the 
honesty, the large-heartedness of the deceased 
toward the poor. He always rejoiced in the 
work we are doing here for the poor and lowly 
and for the sailors. He didn't belong to that 



REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 377 

class of Unitarians who deny the inspiration of 
the Bible. His church has been a great bless- 
ing to the poor children of that part of Boston 
where he lived. ' Mark the perfect man, and 
behold the upright, for the end of that man is 
peace.' I could have said to those soldiers to- 
day, 'Tread lightly, comrades, he was a man.'" 

The Watchman pays this tribute to the late 
Rev. W. H. Cudworth: "At home, he was a 
man of so abounding usefulness to the commu- 
nity, so assiduous in his ministry to the poor, 
and so consistent in his manifestation of a Chris- 
tian spirit, as won the love and respect of all 
who knew him. He was such a man as might 
well be indifferent whether the summons should 
come to him with or without warning." 

Zio?i's Herald (Methodist) says of Mr. Cudworth : 
"His name will long be held in reverence in 
East Boston by people of all religious faiths." 

At the time of his death Rev. Mr. Cudworth 
had attended one thousand four hundred and 
seventy-eight funerals, solemnized eight hundred 
and sixty-six marriages, received four hundred 



378 REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 

and sixty members to his church, baptized two 
hundred and forty adults, and christened one 
thousand -one hundred and six children. 

A PRAYER- FOR HIS CHURCH. 

Here may faith with fervor blend, 
Here devotion's flame ascend, 
Grace and mercy here abound 
And the peace of God be found. 
Oh, let hungry souls be fed 
Here with true and living bread, 
And to Thee accepted rise 
All our Sabbath's sacrifice. 

Holy influences distill, 

Every heart with fervor fill, 

Quell the sinner's anxious fear, 

Dry the mourner's bitter tear ; 

Truth and duty help us learn 

Till our hearts within us burn, • 

Till each soul shall deeply feel 

Earnest life and fervent zeal. 

Teach us, Father, to fulfil, 
All thy wise and sacred will, 
Every doubt and fear remove, 
Warm our hearts with holy love; 
For the Gospel help us feel 



REV. WARREN H. CUD WORTH. 379 

Deep concern and fervent zeal, 

And we all united be, 

One in Christ and one with thee. 

Rev. W. H. Cudworth. 

As the coincidence is somewhat marked in the 
spiritual and military life of Mr. Cudworth, it 
may be interesting to note it. The church on 
Webster street, in which he first preached, has 
since been used by the G. A. R. Ritchie Hall, 
where he next preached, is now used by the 
Maverick Rifles, and the first church of the 
society is used by the Sheridan Guards. The 
military order of the Sons of Veterans of the 
United States mustered into service, soon after his 
death, Camp Number 4, and named it for him. As 
it grows stronger in numbers and means, may it 
uphold in "honor," his name with their own. 

And with a poetical tribute in harmony with 
this thought, our labor of love will close : 

Mid the breath of the flowers' sweet perfume, 
And the flags drooping low o'er thy breast, 

Mid the muffled drums' slow solemn dirges, 
Pass. "Servant of God," to thy rest. 



380 REV. WARREN H. CUDWORTH. 

Just a step from the bank of the river 
To the depths of the tide flowing by, 

Just a step from his altars earth-builded, 
To the courts of thy "Father" On High. 

Unworn yet the strength of the scabbard, 
Ensheathing the blade firm and true, 

Undimmed yet the eagle eye's lustre, 
" Strong in Zion," thou passeth from view. 

No watching, and wearying, and waiting, 

While the strong frame with anguish is torn, 

But swift on " the wings of the morning," 
The soul to its mansions is borne. 

Azriel's coming was swift, sure and silent; 

None heard the dark rush of his wing, 
Or saw from the bright gates supernal, 

The glory that welcomed thee in. 

" Come up higher " — no ear but thine heard it — 
"Brave soldier," still true to thy trust, 

The voice of thy " Captain " is calling, 
"Lay down thy frail armor of dust." 

" Our Father " from earthly courts calling, 
Droop Azriel's dark wings o'er thee now, 

But a light from the glory eternal 
Hath lifted his shade from thy brow. 

Thou need'st not earthly petition, 

But oh ! to thy dwelling place blest, 

Take with thee the prayer yet unfinished, 

Breathe for us in Heaven the rest. E. E. B. 



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